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P A  U  L  THE 
PED  D  LER 


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PAUL   THE    PEDDLER: 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  A  YOUNG  STREET 
MERCHANT 


BY 

HORATIO  ALGER,  Jr. 

AUTHOR  OF  "YOUNG  ACROBAT,"  "  PHIL,  THE  FIDDLER,**  "TMB 
ERIE  TRAIN   BOY,"  ETC^  FTC 


NEW  YORK 

HURST  AND  COMPANY 
Publishers 


Copyright,  1903, 

BY 

HUBST  &  COMPANY. 


>^- 


to 

MY  DEAR    FRIEND, 

Cbarles  Wavics  Scub^et, 

THIS  VOLUME 
IS  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATIH), 


PREFACE. 


In  pursuance  of  my  intention  to  describe  different 
phases  of  street  life  in  New  York,  I  have  selected,  as 
the  hero  of  the  present  volume,  one  of  those  young 
peddlers,  found  by  hundreds  in  the  city  streets,  who 
earn  a  precarious  living  by  vending  their  wares  to 
such  customers  as  can  be  prevailed  upon  to  purchase. 
Some  of  these  Juvenile  merchants  are  active  and  en- 
terprising, and  display  qualities  which  would  insure 
success  in  business  operations  of  greater  magnitcde. 
As  a  rule,  they  are  sharp,  and  know  how  to  turn  a 
penny  as  well  as  their  elders.  Though  the  integrity 
of  some  is  not  above  suspicion,  I  am  afraid  the  same 
thing  may  be  said  of  some  older  merchants,  who  do 
business  on  a  considerably  larger  scale. 

If  my  hero,  Paul  Hoffman,  is  above  the  average  of 
his  class,  it  may  be  attributed,  in  part,  to  the  in- 
fluence of  a  good  mother.  Like  hundreds  of  street 
boys,  he  is  the  main  support  of  his  family;  and,  no 
doubt,  this  responsibility  helps  ^  '^/^Jsjl  ?s^  Kanly 
and  self-reliant. 

New  York,  Oc4.  OS.  W^ 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  fagb 

I.  Paul  the  Peddler 9 

II.  Paul  at  Home 15 

III.  The  Effects  of  Competition 21 

IV.  Teddy  Brien  gives  up  Business 28 

V.  Paul  Loses  his  Stock  in  Trade 34 

VI.  Paul  as  an  Artist 40 

VII.  In  a  New  Business 46 

VIII.  AStrokeof  111  Luck 53 

IX.  A  New  Patron 60 

X.  Paul  Meets  with  a  Loss 66 

XI.  Barclay  and  Co 73 

XII.  The  Barrel  Thief 79 

XIII.  Out  of  Business 85 

XIV.  The  Diamond  Ring 92 

XV.  The  Pawnbroker's  Shop. 98 

XVI.  The  Jeweller's  Price 105 

XVII.  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery Ill 

XVIII.  Paul  Creates  a  Disturbance 118 

XIX.  Paul  Deliberates 124 

XX.  Felix  Montgomery  in  a  New  Character 131 

XXI.  Paul  is  Checkmated ....  137 

XXII.  A  Man  of  Resources. .  .• 144 

XXin.  A  New  Expedient 149 

XXIV.  Mr.  Montgomery's  Arrest 156 

XXV.  Paul's  Final  Success .163 

XXVL  Conclusion 169 


PAUL  THE  peddler; 

OR, 
THE  ADVENTURES  OF  A  YOUNG  STREET  MERCHANT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAUL   THE   PEDDLER. 

'^Here's  your  prize  packages!  Only  five  cents! 
Money  prize  in  every  package!  Walk  up,  gentle- 
men, and  try  your  luck  !  " 

The  speaker,  a  boy  of  fourteen,  stood  in  front  of 
the  shabby  brick  building,  on  Nassau  Street,  which 
has  served  for  many  years  as  the  New  York  post- 
office.  In  front  of  him,  as  he  stood  with  his  back 
to  the  building,  was  a  small  basket,  filled  with  ordi- 
nary letter  envelopes,  each  labelled  "  Prize  Package.^^ 

His  attractive  announcement,  which  at  that  time, 
had  also  the  merit  of  novelty, — ^for  Paul  had  him- 
self hit  upon  the  idea,  and  manufactured  the  pack- 
ages, as  we  shall  hereafter  explain, — drew  around 
him  a  miscellaneous  crowd,  composed  chiefly  of 
boys. 

"  What's  in  the  packages,  Johnny  ?  "  asked  a  boot- 
black, with  his  box  strapped  to  his  back. 

"  Candy,"  answered  Paul.  "  Buy  one.  Only  five 
cents.'* 

''There  aint  much  candy,''  answered  the  boot- 
black^ with  a  disparaging  glance. 

9 


10  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  What  if  there  isn't  ?    There's  a  prize." 

"  How  big  a  prize  ?  "- ;. 

"  There's  a  ten-cent  stamp  in  some  of  'em.  All 
have  got  something  in  'em." 

Influenced  by  this  representation,  the  boot-black 
drew  out  a  five-cent  piece,  and  said : — 

"  Pitch  one  over,  then.     I  guess  I  can  stand  it." 

An  envelope  was  at  once  handed  him. 

"  Open  it,  Johnny,"  said  a  newsboy  at  hia 
side. 

Twenty  curious  eyes  were  fixed  upon  him  as  he 
opened  the  package.  He  drew  out  rather  a  scanty 
supply  of  candy,  and  then  turning  to  Paul,  with  a 
look  of  indignation,  said: — 

"  Where's  the  prize  ?  I  don't  see  no  prize.  Give 
me  back  my  five  cents." 

"  Give  it  to  me.  I'll  show  you,"  said  the  young 
merchant. 

He  thrust  in  his  finger,  and  drew  out  a  square  bit 
of  paper,  on  which  was  written — Oxe  Cent. 

"  There's  your  prize,"  he  added,  drawing  a  penny 
from  his  pocket. 

"  It  ain't  much  of  a  prize,"  said  the  buyer. 
*^  Wliere's  your  ten  cents  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  say  I  put  ten  cents  into  every  package," 
answered  Paul.  "  I'd  burst  up  pretty  quick  if  I  did 
that.  Who'll  have  another  package?  Only  five 
cents ! " 

Curiosity  and  a  taste  for  speculation  are  as  preva- 
lent among  children  as  with  men,  so  that  this  appeal 
produced  its  effect. 

"  Give  me  a  package,"  said  Teddy  O'Brien,  a 
newsboy,  stretching  out  a  dirty  hand,  containing 
the  stipulated  sum.  He  also  was  watched  curiously 
as  he  opened  the  package.  He  drew  out  a  ;?aper 
bearing  the  words — Two  Cents. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     H 

"Bully  for  you,  Teddy!  You've  had  better  luck 
than  I/^  said  the  boot-black. 

The  cheque  was  duly  honored,  and  Teddy  seemed 
satisfied,  though  the  amount  of  candy  he  received 
probably  could  not  have  cost  over  half  a  cent.  Still 
he  had  drawn  twice  as  large  a  prize  as  the  first 
buyer,  and  that  was  satisfactory. 

"Who'll  take  the  next?"  asked  Paul,  in  a  busi- 
ness-like manner.  "  Maybe  there's  ten  cents  in  this 
package.  That's  where  you  double  your  money. 
Walk  up,  gentlemen.    Only  five  cents !  " 

Three  more  responded  to  this  invitation,  one  draw- 
ing  a  prize  of  two  cents,  the  other  two  of  one  cent 
each.  Just  then,  as  it  seemed  doubtful  whether  any 
more  would  be  purchased  by  those  present,  a  young 
man,  employed  in  a  Wall  Street  house,  came  out  of 
the  post-office. 

"  What  have  you  got  here  ?  '^  he  asked,  pausing. 

"  Prize  packages  of  candy !  Money  prize  in  every 
package  !     Only  five  cents  !  " 

"  Give  me  one,  then.  I  never  drew  a  prize  in  my 
life." 

The  exchange  was  speedily  made. 

"  I  don't  see  any  prize,"  he  said,  opening  it. 

"  It's  on  a  bit  of  paper,  mister,"  said  Teddy, 
nearly  as  much  interested  as  if  it  had  been  his  own 
purchase. 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  see.    Well,  I'm  in  luck.    Ten  cents !  " 

"  Ten  cents  !  "  exclaimed  several,  the  less  fortu- 
nate buyers,  with  a  shade  of  envy. 

"  Here's  your  prize,  mister,"  sa^id  Paul,  drawing 
out  a  ten-cent  stamp  from  his  vest-pocket. 

"  Well,  Johnny,  you  do  things  on  the  square,  that's 
a  fact.  Just  keep  the  ten  cents,  and  give  me  two 
more  packages." 

This  Paul  did  with  alacrity;  but  the  Wall  Street 


12  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

clerk's  luck  was  at  an  end.  He  got  two  prizes  of  a 
penny  each. 

"Well,"  he  said,  "I'm  not  much  out  of  pocket. 
I've  bought  three  packages,  and  it's  only  cost  me 
three  cents." 

The  ten-cent  prize  produced  a  favorable  effect  on 
the  business  of  the  young  peddler.  Five  more  pack- 
ages were  bought,  and  the  contents  eagerly  in- 
spected; but  no  other  large  prize  appeared.  Two 
cents  was  the  maximum  prize  drawn.  Their  curi- 
osity being  satisfied,  the  crowd  dispersed ;  but  it  was 
not  long  before  anotJier  gathered.  In  fact,  Paul  had 
snown  excellent  judgment  in  selecting  the  front  of 
the  post-office  as  his  place  of  business.  Hundreds 
passed  in  and  out  every  hour,  besides  those  who 
passed  by  on  a  different  destination.  Thus  many 
ears  caught  the  young  peddler's  cry, — "  Prize  pack- 
ages !  Only  five  cents  a  piece !  " — and  made  a  pur- 
chase; most  from  curiosity,  but  some  few  attracted 
by  the  business-like  bearing  of  the  young  merchant, 
and  willing  to  encourage  him  in  his  efforts  to  make  a 
living.  These  last,  as  well  as  some  of  the  former 
class,  declined  to  accept  the  prizes,  so  that  these 
were  so  much  gfiin  to  Paul. 

At  length  but  one  package  remained,  and  this  Paul 
was  some  time  in  getting  rid  of.  At  last  a  gentleman 
came  up,  holding  a  little  boy  of  seven  by  the  hand. 

"  Oh,  buy  me  the  package,  papa ! "  he  said,  draw- 
ing his  father's  attention. 

"  What  is  there  in  it,  boy  ?  "  asked  the  gentleman. 

"  Candy,"  was  the  answer. 

Alfred,  for  this  was  the  little  boy's  name,  renewed 
his  entreaties,  having,  like  most  boys,  a  taste  for 
candy. 

"  There  it  is,  Alfred,"  said  his  father,  handing  the 
package  to  his  little  son. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      13 

'"There's  a  prize  inside/'  said  Paul,  seeing  that 
they  were  about  to  pass. 

"We  must  look  for  the  prize  by  all  means/'  said 
the  gentleman.    "  What  is  this?    One  cent !  " 

"  Yes,  sir ; "  and  Paul  held  out  a  cent  to  his  cus- 
tomer. 

"  Never  mind  about  that !  You  may  keep  the 
prize." 

"  I  want  it,  pa/'  interposed  Alfred,  with  his  mouth 
full  of  candy. 

"I'll  give  you  another/'  said  his  father,  still 
declining  to  accept  the  proffered  piize. 

Paul  now  found  himself  in  the  enviable  position  of 
one  who,  at  eleven  o'clock,  had  succeeded  in  disposing 
of  his  entire  stock  in  trade,  and  that  at  an  excellent 
profit,  as  we  soon  shall  see.  .Business  had  been 
more  brisk  with  him  than  with  many  merchants  on 
a  larger  scale,  who  sometimes  keep  open  their  shops 
all  day  without  taking  in  enough  to  pay  expenses. 
But  then  it  is  to  be  considered  that  in  Paul's  case 
expenses  were  not  a  formidable  item.  He  had  no 
rent  to  pay,  for  one  thing,  nor  clerk  hire,  being 
competent  to  attend  to  his  entire  business  single 
handed.  All  his  expense,  in  fact,  was  the  first  cost 
of  his  stock  in  trade,  and  he  had  so  fixed  his  prices 
as  to  ensure  a  good  profit  on  that.  So,  on  the  whole, 
Paul  felt  very  well  satisfied  at  the  result  of  his  ex- 
periment, for  this  was  his  first  day  in  the  prize- 
package  JDusiness. 

"I  guess  I'll  go  home,"  he  said  to  him^self. 
*^Mother'll  want  to  know  how  I  made  out."  He 
turned  up  Nassau  Street,  and  had  reached  the  corner 
of  Maiden  Lane,  when  Teddy  Brien  met  him. 

"  Did  you  sell  out,  Johnny  ?  "  he  asked, 

**Yes,"  answered  Paul. 

**How  many  packages  did  you  have?'* 


14  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OK, 

''  Fifty." 

"  That's  bully.    How  much  you  made  ?  " 

"I  can't  tell  yet.  I  haven't  counted  up/'  said 
Paul. 

"  It's  better'n  sellin'  papers,  I'll  bet.  I've  only 
made  thirty  cents  the  day.  Don't  you  want  to  take 
a  partner,  Johnny  ?  " 

"No,  I  don't  think  I  do/'  said  Paul,  who  had 
good  reason  to  doubt  whether  such  a  step  would  be 
to  his  advantage. 

"  Then  I'll  go  in  for  myself,"  said  Teddy,  some- 
what displeased  at  the  refusal. 

"  Go  ahead !  There's  nobody  to  stop  you,"  said 
Paul. 

"  I'd  rather  go  in  with  you,"  said  Teddy,  feeling 
that  there  would  be  some  trouble  in  making  the 
prize  packages,  but  influenced  still  more  by  the 
knowledge  that  he  had  not  capital  enough  to  start 
in  the  business  alone. 

"No,"  said  Paul,  positively,  "I  don't  want  any 
partner,  I  can  do  well  enough  alone." 

He  was  not  surprised  at  Tedd3^'s  application. 
Street  boys  are  as  enterprising,  and  have  as  sharp 
eyes  for  business  as  their  elders,  and  no  one  among 
them  can  monopolize  a  profitable  business  long. 
This  is  especially  the  case  with  the  young  street  mer- 
chant. \tTien  one  has  had  the  good  luck  to  find 
some  attractive  article,  which  promises  to  sell  briskly, 
he  takes  every  care  to  hide  the  source  of  his  supply 
from  his  rivals  in  trade.  But  this  is  almost  im- 
possible. Cases  are  frequent  where  such  boys  are 
subjected  to  the  closest  espionage,  their  steps  being 
dogged  for  hours  by  boys  who  think  they  have  found 
a  good  thing,  and  are  determined  to  share  it.  In 
the  present  case  Paul  had  hit  upon  an  idea  which 
seemed  to  promise  well,  and  he  was  determined  to 


ADVEirrURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     15 

keep  it  to  himself  as  long  as  possible.  As  soon  as 
he  was  subjected  to  competition  and  rivalry  his  gains 
would  probably  diminish. 


CHAPTEE  11. 

PAUL  AT   HOME. 

Paul  went  up  Centre  Street,  and  turned  int(? 
Pearl.  Stopping  before  a  tenement  house^  he 
entered,  and  going  up  two  flights  of  stairs,  opened 
a  door  and  entered. 

"  You  are  home  early,  Paul,"  said  a  woman  of 
middle  age,  looking  up  at  his  entrance. 

"  Yes,  mother,  I've  sold  out." 

"You've  not  sold  out  the  whole  fifty  packages?" 
she  asked,  in  surprise. 

"  Yes,  I  have.    I  had  capital  luck." 

"Why,  you  must  have  made  as  much  as  a. dollar, 
and  it's  not  twelve  yet." 

"  I've  made  more  tfian  that,  mother.  Just  wait  a 
minute  till  I've  reckoned  up  a  little.  Where's 
Jimmy?" 

"  Miss  Beckwith  offered  to  take  him  out  to  wa,lk 
with  her,  so  I  let  him  go.    He'll  be  back  at  twelve." 

Wliile  Paul  is  making  a  calculation,  a  few  words 
of  explanation  and  description  may  be  given,  so  that 
the  reader  may  understand  better  how  he  is  situa- 
ated. 

The  rooms  occupied  by  Paul  and  his  mother  were 
three  in  numiber.  The  larigrest  one  was  about  four- 
teen feet  square,  and  was  lighted  by  two  windows. 
It  was  covered  with  a  neat,  though  well-worn  carpet; 


16  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  :  OR, 

a  few  cane-bottomed  chairs  were  ranged  at  the 
windows,  and  on  each  side  of  the  table.  There  was 
a  French  clock  on  the  mantel,  a  rocking-chair  for 
his  mother,  and  a  few  inexpensive  engravings  hung 
upon  the  walls.  There  was  a  hanging  bookcase  con- 
taining two  shelves,  filled  with  books,  partly  school- 
books,  supplemented  by  a  few  miscellaneous  books, 
such  as  "  Eobinson  Crusoe,"  "  Pilgrim's  Progress/' 
a  volume  of  "  Poetical  Selections/'  an  odd  volume  of 
Scott,  and  several  others.  Out  of  the  main  room 
opened  two  narrow  chambers,  both  together  of  about 
the  same  area  as  the  main  room.  One  of  these  was 
occupied  by  Paul  and  Jimmy,  the  other  by  his 
mother. 

Those  who  are  familiar  with  the  construction  of  a 
New  York  tenement  house  will  readily  understand 
the  appearance  of  the  rooms  into  which  we  have 
introduced  them.  It  must,  however,  be  explained 
that  few  similar  apartments  are  found  so  well  fur- 
nished. Carpets  are  not  very  common  in  tenement 
houses,  and  if  there  are  any  pictures,  they  are  usually 
the  cheapest  prints.  Wooden  chairs,  and  generally 
everything  of  the  cheapest,  are  to  be  met  with  in  the 
dwellings  of  the  New  York  poor.  If  we  find  some- 
thing better  in  the  present  instance,  it  is  not  because 
Paul  and  his  mother  are  any  better  off  than  their 
neighbors.  On  the  contrary,  there  are  few  whose 
income  is  so  small.  But  they  have  seen  better  days, 
and  the  furniture  we  see  has  been  saved  from  the 
time  of  their  comparative  prosperity. 

As  Paul  is  still  at  his  estimate,  let  us  improve  the 
opportunity  by  giving  a  little  of  their  early  history. 

Mr.  Hoffman,  the  father  of  Paul,  was  born  in 
Germany,  but  came  to  New  York,  when  a  boy  of 
twelve,  and  there  he  grew  up  and  married,  his  wife 
being  an  American.    He  was  a  cabinet-maker,  and, 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     17 

being  a  skilful  workman,  earned  very  good  wages, 
so  that  he  was  able  to  maintain  his  family  in  comfort. 
They  occupied  a  neat  little  cottage  in  Harlem,  and 
lived  very  happily,  for  Mr.  Hoffman  was  temperate 
and  kind,  when  an  unfortunate  accident  clouded  their 
liappiness,  and  brought  an  end  to  their  prosperity. 
In  crossing  Broadway  at  its  most  crowded  part,  the 
husband  and  father  was  run  over  by  a  loaded  dray, 
and  so  seriously  injured  that  he  lived  but  a  few 
hours.  Then  the  precarious  nature  of  their  pros- 
perity was  found  out.  Mr.  Hoffman  had  not  saved 
anything,  having  always  lived  up  to  the  extent  of 
his  income.  It  was  obviously  impossible  for  them 
to  continue  to  live  in  their  old  home,  paying  a  rent 
of  twenty  dollars  per  month.  Besides,  Paul  did  not 
see  any  good  opportunity  to  earn  his  living  in  Har- 
lem. So,  at  his  instigation,  his  mother  moved  down 
town,  and  took  rooms  in  a  tenement  house  in  Pearl 
Street,  agreeing  to  pay  six  dollars  a  month  for  apart- 
ments which  would  now  command  double  the  price. 
They  brought  with  them  furniture  enough  to  furnish 
the  three  rooms,  selling  the  rest  for  what  it  would 
bring,  and  thus  obtaining  a  small  reserve  fund,  which 
by  this  time  was  nearly  exhausted. 

Once  fairly  established  in  their  new  home,  Paul 
went  out  into  the  streets  to  earn  his  living.  The 
two  most  obvious,  and,  on  the  whole,  most  profitable 
trades,  were  blacking  boots  and  selling  newspapers. 
To  the  first,  Paul,  who  was  a  neat  boy,  objected  on 
the  score  that  it  would  keep  his  hands  and  clothing 
dirty,  and,  street-boy  though  he  had  become,  he  had 
a  pride  in  his  personal  appearance.  To  selling 
papers  he  had  not  the  same  objection,  but  he  had  a 
natural  taste  for  trade,  and  this  led  him  to  join  the 
ranks  of  the  street  peddlers.  He  began  with  vending 
matches,   but   found   so   much   competition   in   the 


18  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

business,  and  received  so  rough  a  reception  often- 
times from  those  who  had  repeated  calls  from  others 
in  the  same  business,  that  he  gave  it  up,  and  tried 
something  else.  But  the  same  competition  which 
crowds  the  professions  and  the  higher  employments 
followed  by  men  prevails  among  the  street  trades 
which  are  pursued  by  boys.  If  Paul  had  only  had 
himself  to  support,  he  could  have  made  a  fair  living 
at  match-selling,  or  any  other  of  the  employments  he 
took  up;  but  his  mother  could  not  earn  much  at 
making  vests,  and  Jimmy  was  lame,  and  could  do 
nothing  to  fill  the  common  purse,  so  that  Paul  felt 
that  his  earnings  must  be  the  main  support  of  the 
family,  and  naturally  sought  out  what  would  bring 
him  in  most  money. 

At  length  he  had  hit  upon  selling  prize  packages, 
and  his  first  experiences  in  that  line  are  recorded  in 
the  previous  chapter.  Adding  only  that  it  was  now 
a  year  since  his  father's  death,  we  resume  our  narra- 
tive. 

"  Do  you  want  to  know  how  much  I've  made, 
mother  ?  "  asked  Paul,  looking  up  at  length  from  his 
calculation. 

"  Yes,  Paul." 

"  A  dollar  and  thirty  cents." 

"  I  did  not  think  it  would  amount  to  so  much. 
The  prizes  came  to  considerable,  didn't  they?" 

"  Listen,  and  I  will  tell  you  how  I  stand : — 

One  pound  of  candy, 30 

Two  packs  of  envelopes, 10 

Prizes, 90 

That  makes SI. 30 

I  sold  the  fifty  packages  at  five  cents  each,  and  that 
brought  me  in  two  dollars  and  a  half.     Taking  out 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     19 

the  expenses,  it  leaves  me  a  dollar  and  thirty  cents. 
Isn't  that  doing  well  for  one  morning's  work  ?  '* 

"  It's  excellent ;  but  I  thought  your  prizes  amounted 
to  more  than  ninety  cents." 

"  So  they  did,  but  several  persons  who  bought 
wouldn't  take  their  prizes,  and  that  was  so  much 
gain." 

"You  have  done  very  well,  Paul.  I  wish  you 
might  earn  as  much  every  day." 

"  I'm  going  to  earn  some  more  this  afternoon.  I 
bought  a  pound  of  candy  on  the  way  home,  and  some 
cheap  envelopes,  and  I'll  be  making  up  a  new  stock 
while  I  am  waiting  for  dinner." 

Paul  took  out  his  candy  and  envelopes,  and  set 
about  making  up  the  packages. 

"  Did  any  complain  of  the  small  amount  of  candy 
you  put  in  ?  " 

"  A  few ;  but  most  bought  for  the  sake  of  the 
prizes." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  be  a  little  more  liberal 
with  your  candy,  and  then  there  may  not  be  so  much 
dissatisfaction  where  the  prize  is  only  a  penny." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right,  mother.  I  believe 
I'll  only  make  thirty  packages  with  this  pound,  in- 
stead of  fifty.  Thirty'll  be  all  I  can  sell  this  after- 
noon." 

Just  then  the  door  opened,  and  Paul's  brother 
entered. 

Jimmy  Hoffman,  or  lame  Jimmy,  as  he  was  often 
called,  was  a  delicate-looking  boy  of  ten,  with  a  fair 
complexion  and  sweet  face,  but  incurably  lame,  a 
defect,  which,  added  to  his  delicate  constitution,  was 
likely  to  interfere  seriously  with  his  success  in  life. 
But,  as  frequently  happens,  Jimmy  was  all  the  more 
endeared  to  his  mother  and  brother  by  his  misfortune 
and  bodily  weakness,  and  if  either  were  obliged  to 


20  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

Buffer  from  poverty,  Jimmy  would  be  spared  the 
suffering. 

"  Well,  Jimmy,  have  you  had  a  pleasant  walk  ?  " 
asked  his  mother. 

"  Yes,  mother ;  I  went  down  to  Fulton  Market. 
There's  a  good  deal  to  see  there." 

"A  good  deal  more  than  in  this  dull  room, 
Jimmy.'^ 

"It  doesn't  seem  dull  to  me,  mother,  while  you 
are  here.  How  did  you  make  out  selling  your  prize 
packages  ?  " 

"  They  are  all  sold,  Jimmy,  every  one.  I  am 
making  some  more." 

"Shan't  I  help  you?" 

"  Yes,  I  would  like  to  have  you.  Just  take  those 
envelopes,  and  write  Prize  Packages  on  every  one 
of  them." 

"  All  right,  Paul ; "  and  Jimmy,  glad  to  be  of  use, 
got  the  pen  and  ink,  and,  gathering  up  the  envelopes, 
began  to  inscribe  them  as  he  had  been  instructed. 

By  the  time  the  packages  were  made  up,  dinner 
was  ready.  It  was  not  a  very  luxurious  repast. 
There  was  a  small  piece  of  rump  steak, — not  more 
than  three-quarters  of  a  pound, — a  few  potatoes,  a 
loaf  of  bread,  and  a  small  plate  of  butter.  That  was 
all;  but  then  the  cloth  that  covered  the  table  was 
neat  and  clean,  and  the  knives  and  forks  were  as 
bright  as  new,  and  what  there  was  tasted  good. 

"  What  have  you  been  doling  this  morning, 
Jimmy?"  asked  Paul. 

"  I  have  been  drawing,  Paul.  Here's  a  picture  of 
Friday.    I  copied  it  from  *  Eobinson  Crusoe.'  " 

He  showed  the  picture,  which  was  wonderfully 
like  that  in  the  book,  for  this-^the  gift  of  drawing — 
was  Jimmy's  one  talent,  and  he  possessed  it  in  no 
common  degree. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     21 

'^  Excellent,  Jimmy !  ^'  said  Paul.  "  You're  a  real 
genius.  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  you'd  make  an 
artist  some  day." 

"  I  wish  I  might,"  said  Jimmy,  earnestly. 
''  There's  nothing  I'd  like  better." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,  Jimmy.  If  I  do  well  this 
afternoon,  I'll  buy  you  a  drawing-book  and  some 
paper,  to  work  on  while  mother  and  I  are  busy." 

"  If  you  can  afford  it,  Paul,  I  should  like  it  so 
much.  Some  time  I  might  earn  something  that 
way." 

"  Of  course  you  ma}^"  said  Paul,  cheerfully.  *^  I 
won't  forget  3'ou." 

Dinner  over,  Paul  went  out  to  business,  and  was 
again  successful,  getting  rid  of  his  thirty  packages, 
and  clearing  another  dollar.  Half  of  this  he  invested 
in  a  drawing-book,  a  pencil,  and  some  drawing-paper 
for  Jimmy.  Even  then  he  had  left  of  his  earnings 
for  the  day  one  dollar  and  eighty  cents.  But  his 
success  in  the  new  business  had  already  excited  envy 
and  competition,  as  he  was  destined  to  find  out  on 
tlie  morrow. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  EFFECTS  OF  COMPETITION". 

The  next  morning  Paul  took  his  old  place  in  front 
of  the  post-office.  He  set  down  his  basket  in  front, 
and,  taking  one  of  the  packages  in  his  hand,  called 
out  in  a  business-like  manner,  as  on  the  day  before, 
"Here's  your  prize  packages!  Only  five  cents  I 
Money  prize  in  every  package  I  Walk  up,  gentle* 
men,  and  try  your  luck  I " 


22  PAXIL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  0R< 

He  met  with  a  fair  degree  of  success  at  first,  man- 
aging in  the  course  of  an  hour  to  sell  ten  packages. 
All  the  prizes  drawn  were  small,  with  the  exception 
of  one  ten-cent  prize,  which  was  drawn  by  a  little 
boot-black,  who  exclaimed: — 

"  That's  the  way  to  do  business,  Johnny.  If 
you've  got  any  more  of  them  ten-cent  prizes,  I'll 
give  you  ten  cents  apiece  for  the  lot." 

"  Better  buy  some  more  and  see,"  said  Paul. 

"  That  don't  go  down,"  said  the  other.  "  Maybe 
there'd  be  only  a  penny." 

Nevertheless,  the  effect  of  this  large  prize  was  to 
influence  the  sale  of  three  other  packages;  but  as 
neither  of  these  contained  more  than  two-cent  prizes, 
trade  began  to  grow  dull,  and  for  ten  minutes  all 
Paul's  eloquent  appeals  to  gentlemen  to  walk  up  and 
try  their  luck  produced  no  effect. 

At  this  point  Paul  found  that  there  was  a  rival  in 
the  field. 

Teddy  Brien,  who  had  applied  for  a  partnership  the 
day  before,  came  up  with  a  basket  similar  to  his  own, 
apparently  filled  with  similar  packages.  He  took  a 
position  about  six  feet  distant  from  Paul,  and  began 
to  cry  out,  in  a  shrill  voice : — 

"  Here's  your  bully  prize  packages !  Best  in  the 
market!  Here's  where  you  get  your  big  prizes,  fifty 
cents  in  some  of  'em.  Walk  up,  boys,  tumble  up, 
and  take  your  pick  afore  they're  gone.  Fifty  cents 
for  five!" 

"  That's  a  lie,  Teddy,"  said  Paul,  who  saw  that  his 
rival's  attractive  announcement  was  Likely  to  spoil 
his  trade. 

"  No,  'tisn't,"  said  Teddy.  ''  If  you  don't  believe  it, 
just  buy  one  and  see." 

"I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,"  said  Paul,  'Til  ex- 
change.'* 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.  23 

"No,"  said  Teddy;  "I  aint  a-goin*  to  risk  giyin* 
fifty  cents  for  one/* 

"  More  likely  you'd  get  ten  for  one.  You're  a 
humbug." 

"  Hare  you  really  got  any  fifty-cent  prizes  ? " 
asked  a  newsboy,  who  had  sold  out  his  morning  stock 
of  papers,  and  was  lounging  about  the  post-office 
steps. 

"  Best  way  is  to  buy,  Johnny,"  said  Teddy. 

The  boy  did  buy,  but  his  prize  amounted  to  only 
one  cent. 

"Didn't  I  tell  you  so?"  said  Paul. 

"  Just  wait  a  while  and  see,"  said  Teddy.  "  The 
lucky  feller  hasn't  come  along.  Here,  Mike,  jest  buy 
a  package ! " 

Mike,  a  boy  of  fifteen,  produced  five  cents,  and 
said,  "  I  don't  mind  if  I  do." 

He  selected  a  package,  and,  without  opening  it, 
slipped  it  into  his  pocket. 

"  Why  don't  you  open  it  ?  "  said  Teddv. 

"  What's  the  use  ?  "  said  Mike.  "  TheVe  aint  no 
fifty  cents  inside." 

However,  he  drew  it  out  of  his  pocket,  and  opened 
it. 

^''  What's  this  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  pulling  out  a  piece 
of  scrip.  "  Howly  St.  Patrick !  it's  I  that's  in  luck, 
anyhow.    I've  got  the  fifty  cents !  " 

And  he  held  up  to  view  a  fifty-cent  scrip. 

"  Let  me  look  at  it,"  said  Paul,  incredulously. 

But  there  was  no  room  for  doubt.  It  was  a  genu- 
ine fifty  cents,  as  Paul  was  compelled  to  admit. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  so?  "  said  Teddy,  triumphantly. 
"  Here's  where  you  get  your  fifty-cent  prizes." 

The  appeal  was  successful.  The  sight  of  the  fifty- 
cent  prize  led  to  a  large  call  for  the  packages,  of 
which  Teddy  immediately  sold  ten,  while  Paul  found 


24  FAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

himself  completely  deserted.  None  of  the  ten,  how 
ever,  contained  over  two  cents.  Still  the  possibility 
of  drawing  fifty  cents  kept  up  the  courage  of  buyers, 
while  Paul's  inducements  were  so  far  inferior  that  he 
found  himself  wholly  distanced. 

"Don't  you  wish  you'd  gone  pardners  with  me?" 
asked  Teddy,  with  a  triumphant  grin,  noticing  Paul's 
look  of  discomfiture.  "  You  can't  do  business  along- 
side of  me." 

"  You  can't  make  any  money  giving  such  big 
prizes,"  said  Paul.  "  You  haven't  taken  in  as  much 
as  you've  given  yet." 

"All  right,"  said  Teddy.  "I'm  satisfied  if  you 
are.     Have  a  package,  Jim  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Jim.  "  Mind  you  give  me  a  good 
prize." 

The  package  was  bought,  and,  on  being  opened, 
proved  to  contain  fifty  cents  also,  to  Paul's  great 
amazement.  How  Teddy's  business  could  pay,  as 
it  w^as  managed,  he  could  not  comprehend.  One 
thing  was  certain,  however,  his  new  competitor 
monopolized  the  trade,  and  for  two  hours  Paul  did 
not  get  a  solitary  customer. 

"  There's  something  about  this  I  don't  under- 
stand," he  pondered,  thoughtfully.  "  He  must  lose 
money;  but  he's  spoiled  my  trade." 

Paul  did  not  like  to  give  up  beat,  but  he  found 
himself  compelled  to.  Accordingly  he  took  his 
basket,  and  moved  off  towards  Wall  Street.  Here 
he  was  able  to  start  in  business  without  competitors, 
and  succeed'^^d  in  selling  quite  a  number  of  packages, 
until  a  boy  came  up,  and  said: — 

"  There's  a  feller  up  at  the  post-office  that's  givin' 
fifty-cent  prizes.    I  got  one  of  'em." 

There  was  a  group  of  half-a-dozen  boys  around 
Paul,  two  of  whom  were  about  to  invest;  but  on 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      25 

hearing  this  they  changed  their  intention,  and  walked 
off  in  the  direction  of  the  post-office. 

Looking  up,  Paul  saw  that  the  boy  who  had  in- 
jured his  trade  was  Mike,  who  had  drawn  the  first 
fifty-cent  prize  from  his  competitor. 

"  Can't  you  stop  interfering  ? "  he  said,  angrily. 
"I've  lost  two  customers  by  you." 

"  If  you  don't  like  it,  you  can  lump  it,"  said  Mike, 
insolently.    "  This  is  a  free  country,  aint  it  ?  " 

*^  It  's  a  mean  trick,"  said  Paul,  indignantly. 

"  Say  that  ag'in,  and  I'll  upset  your  baskei,"  re- 
turned Mike. 

"  I'll  say  it  as  often  as  I  like,"  said  Paul,  who 
wasn't  troubled  by  cowardice.  "  Come  on,  if  you 
want  to." 

Mike  advanced  a  step,  doubling  his  fists ;  but  find- 
ing that  Paul  showed  no  particular  sign  of  fear,  he 
stopped  short,  saying,  "  I'll  lick  you  some  other 
time." 

"You'd  better  put  it  off,"  said  Paul.  "Have  a 
prize  package,  sir  ?    Only  five  cents  !  " 

This  was  addressed  to  a  young  man  who  came  out 
of  an  insurance  office. 

"  I  don't  mind  if  I  do,"  said  the  young  man* 
"  Five  cents,  is  it  ?    What  prize  may  I  expect  ?  " 

"  The  highest  is  ten  cents." 

"  There's  a  boy  round  bf  the  post-office  that  gives 
fifty-cent  prizes,  mister,"  said  Mike.  "  You'd  bet- 
ter buy  of  him." 

"  I'll  wait  till  another  time,"  said  the  young  man. 
"  Here's  the  money,  Johnny.    Now  for  the  package." 

"Look  here,"  said  Paul,  indignantly,  when  his 
customer  had  gone  away ;  "  haven't  you  anything 
to  do  except  to  drive  off  my  customers  ?  " 

"  Give  me  two  cents  on  every  package,"  said  Mike, 
^  and  m  tell  'em  you  give  dollar  prizes." 


26  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

**  That  would  be  a  lie,  and  I  don't  want  to  do  biisi* 
ness  that  way." 

Mike  continued  his  persecutions  a  while  longer, 
and  then  turned  the  corner  into  Nassau  Street. 

''Vm  glad  he's  gone,"  thought  Paul.  "Now 
there's  a  chance  for  me." 

He  managed  after  a  while  to  sell  twenty  of  his 
packages.  By  this  time  it  was  twelve  o'clock,  and 
Ae  began  to  feel  hungry.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
go  home  to  dinner,  and  come  out  again  in  the  after- 
noon. He  didn't  know  how  much  he  had  made,  but 
probably  about  fifty  cents.  He  had  made  more  than 
double  as  much  the  day  before  in  less  time;  but  then 
he  did  not  suffer  from  competition.  He  began  to 
doubt  whether  he  could  long  pursue  this  business, 
since  other  competitors  were  likely  to  spring  up. 

As  he  walked  by  the  post-office,  he  had  the  curi- 
osity to  look,  and  see  how  his  competitor  was  getting 
along. 

Teddy  had  started,  originally,  with  seventy-five 
packages;  but  of  these  scarcely  a  dozen  were  left. 
A  group  of  boys  were  around  him.  Among  them 
was  Mike,  who  was  just  on  the  point  of  buying 
another  package.  As  before,  he  put  it  in  his  pocket, 
and  it  was  not  till  Teddy  asked,  "  What  luck, 
Mike?"  that  he  drew  it  out,  and,  opening  it  again, 
produced  fifty  cents. 

"  It's  the  big  prize !  "  he  said.  "  Sure  I'm  in  luck, 
anyhow." 

"  You're  the  boy  that's  lucky,"  said  Teddy,  with  a 
grin. 

As  Paul  witnessed  this  scene,  a  light  broke  upon 
him.  Now  he  understood  how  it  was  that  Teddy 
could  afford  to  give  such  large  prizes.  Mike  and 
the  other  boy,  Jim,  were  only  confederates  of  his, — 
decoy   ducks, — who   kept    drawing   over   again   the 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     27 

same  prize,  which  was  eventually  given  back  to 
Teddy.  It  was  plain  now  why  Mike  put  the  package 
into  his  pocket  before  opening.  It  was  to  exchange 
it  for  another  packet  into  which  the  money  had  pre- 
viously been  placed,  but  which  was  supposed  by  the 
lookers-on  to  be  the  same  that  had  just  been  pur- 
chased. The  prize  could  afterwards  be  placed  in  a 
new  packet  and  used  over  again. 

*^  That  aint  the  same  package/'  said  Paul,  an- 
nouncing his  discovery.  "  He  had  it  all  the  while 
in  his  pocket." 

"  Look  here,''  blustered  Mike,  "  you  jest  mind 
3^our  own  business!  That's  the  best  thing  for 
you." 

"  Suppose  I  don't." 

"If  you  don't  there  may  be  a  funeral  to-morrow 
of  a  boy  about  your  size." 

There  was  a  laugh  at  Paul's  expense,  but  he  took 
it  coolly. 

"  I'll  send  you  a  particular  invitation  to  attend,  if 
I  can  get  anybody  to  go  over  to  the  Island." 

As  Mike  had  been  a  resident  at  Blackwell's  Island 
on  two  different  occasions,  this  produced  a  laugh  at 
his  expense,  in  the  midst  of  which  Paul  walked  off. 


«8  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 


CHAPTER  IV. 

TEDDY  BRIEN^  GIVES  UP  BUSINESS. 

'*  Have  you  sold  all  your  packages,  Paul  ?  "  asked 
Jimmy,  as  our  hero  entered  the  humble  room,  where 
the  table  was  already  spread  with  a  simple  dinner. 

"  No,"  said  Paul,  "  I  only  sold  twenty.  I  begin  to 
think  that  the  prize  package  business  will  soon  be 
plaved  out." 

"Why?" 

"  There^s  too  many  that'll  go  into  it." 

Here  Paul  related  his  experience  of  the  morning, 
explaining  how  it  was  that  Teddy  had  managed  to 
distance  him  in  the  competition. 

"  Can't  you  do  the  same,  Paul  ? "  asked  Jimmy. 
"  Mother's  got  a  gold  dollar  she  could  lend  you." 

"  That  might  do,"  said  Paul ;  "  but  I  don't  know 
any  boy  I  could  trust  to  draw  it  except  you,  and 
some  of  them  would  know  we  were  brothers." 

"I  think,  Paul,  that  would  be  dishonest,"  said 
Mrs.  Hoffman.  "  I  would  rather  make  less,  if  I  were 
you,  and  do  it  honestly." 

"Maybe  you're  right,  mother.  I'll  try  it  again 
this  afternoon,  keeping  as  far  away  from  Teddy  as 
I  can.  If  I  find  I  can't  make  it  go,  I'll  try  some 
other  business." 

"Jimmy,  have  you  shown  Paul  your  drawing?" 
said  his  mother. 

**Here  it  is,  Paul,"  said  Jinmqr,  producing  his 


ADVENTURES  OJ  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      29 

drawing-book,  from  which  he  had  copied  a  simple 

design  of  a  rustic  cottage. 

"  Why,  that's  capital,  Jimmy/*  said  Paul,  in  real 
surprise.  "  I  had  no  idea  you  would  succeed  so 
well" 

"  Do  you  really  think  so,  Paul  ?  "  asked  the  little 
boy,  much  pleased. 

''  I  really  do.    How  long  did  it  take  you  ?  " 

^^  Only  a  short  time ;  not  more  than  half  an  hour, 
I  should  think,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman.  "I  think 
Jimmy  succeeded  very  well." 

"  You'll  make  a  great  artist  some  time,  Jimmy,'' 
said  Paul. 

^^  I  wish  I  could,"  said  the  little  boy.  "  I  should 
like  to  earn  some  money,  so  that  you  and  mother 
need  not  work  so  hard." 

"  Hard  work  agrees  with  me.  I'm  tough,"  said 
Paul.  "But  when  we  get  to  be  men,  Jimmy,  we'll 
make  so  much  money  that  mother  needn't  work  at 
all.  She  shall  sit  in  the  parlor  all  day,  dressed  in 
silk,  with  nothing  to  do." 

"  I  don't  think  I  would  enjoy  that,"  said  Mrs. 
Hoffman,  smiling. 

"  Will  you  be  in  the  candy  business,  then,  Paul  ?  '* 
said  Jimmy. 

"  No,  Jimmy.  It  would  never  do  for  the  brother 
of  a  great  artist  to  be  selling  candy  round  the 
streets.  I  hope  I  shall  have  something  better  to  do 
than  that." 

"  Sit  down  to  dinner,  Paul,"  said  his  mother.  "  It's 
all  ready." 

The  dinner  was  not  a  luxurious  one.  There  was  a 
small  plate  of  cold  meat,  some  potatoes,  and  bread 
and  butter ;  but  ]\Irs.  Hoffman  felt  glad  to  be  able  to 
provide  even  that,  and  Paul,  who  had  the  hearty 
appetite  of  a  growing  boy,  did  full  justice  to  the 


30  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

fpre.  They  had  scarcely  finished,  when  a  knock  was 
heard  at  the  door.  Paul,  answering  the  summons, 
admitted  a  stout,  pleasant-looking  Irish  woman. 

"  The  top  of  the  marnin'  to  ye,  Mrs.  Donovan,** 
Baid  Paul,  bowing  ceremoniously. 

"  Ah,  ye'll  be  afther  havin'  your  joke,  Paul,"  said 
Mrs.  Donovan,  good-humoredly.  "And  how  is  your 
health,  mum,  the  day  ?  " 

"  I  am  well,  thank  you,  Mrs.  Donovan,"  said  Mrs. 
Hoffman.  "  Sit  down  to  the  table,  won't  you  ?  We're 
just  through  dinner,  but  there's  something  left." 

"  Thank  you,  mum,  I've  jist  taken  dinner.  I  was 
goin'  to  wash  this  afternoon,  and  I  thought  maybe 
you'd  have  some  little  pieces  I  could  wash  jist  as  well 
as  not." 

"  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Donovan,  you  are  very  kind ; 
but  you  must  have  enough  work  of  your  own  to 
do." 

"  I'm  stout  and  strong,  mum.  and  hard  work 
agrees  with  me;  but  you're  a  rale  lady,  and  aint 
used  to  it.  It's  only  a  thrifle,  but  if  you  want  to 
pay  me,  you  could  do  a  bit  of  sewin'  for  me.  I  aint 
very  good  with  the  needle.  My  fingers  is  too  coarse, 
belike." 

"  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Donovan ;  on  those  terms  I 
will  agree  to  your  kind  offer.  Washing  is  a  little 
hard  for  me." 

Mrs.  Hoffman  collected  a  few  pieces,  and,  wrapping 
them  up  in  a  handkerchief,  handed  them  to  her  guest. 

"  And  now  what  have  you  been  doin',  Jimmy  dar- 
lint  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Donovan,  turning  her  broad,  good- 
humored  face  towards  the  younger  boy. 

"  I've  been  drawing  a  picture,"  said  Jimmy. 
**  Would  you  like  to  see  it  ?  " 

"  Now,  isn't  that  illigant  ?  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Dono- 
van, admiringly,  taking  the  picture  and  gazing  at  it 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      31 

with  rapt  admiration.     "  Who  showed  you  how  to 
do  iti" 

"  Paul  bought  me  a  book,  and  I  copied  it  out  of 
that." 

(  "  You're  a  rale  ganius.  Maybe  you'll  make  pic- 
/'tures  some  time  like  them  we  have  in  the  church,  of 
Hhe  Blessed  Virgin  and  the  Saints.  Do  you  think 
you  could  draw  me,  now?"  she  asked,  with  curi- 
osity. 

"  I  haven't  got  a  piece  of  paper  big  enough,"  said 
Jimmy,  slyly. 

"Ah,  it's  pokin'  fun  at  me,  ye  are,"  said  Mrs. 
Donovan,  good-humoredly.  "  Just  like  my  Pat ;  he 
run  into  the  room  yesterday,  sayin',  *  Mother,  there's 
great  news.  Barnum's  fat  woman  is  dead,  and  he's 
comin'  afther  you  this  afternoon.  He'll  pay  you  ten 
dollars  a  week  and  board,' — '  Whist,  ye  spalpeen ! ' 
said  I ;  *  is  it  makin'  fun  of  your  poor  mother,  ye 
are  ? '  but  I  couldn't  help  laughing  at  the  imperence 
of  the  boy.    But  I  must  be  goin'." 

"  Thank  you  for  your  kind  offer,  Mrs.  Donovan. 
Jimmy  shall  go  to  your  room  for  the  sewing." 

"  There's  no  hurry  about  that,"  said  Mrs.  Dono- 
van.   "  I'll  jist  bring  it  in  meself,  when  it's  ready." 

"  She  is  very  kind,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman,  when 
Bridget  Donovan  had  gone.  "  I  shall  be  glad  to 
have  her  wash.  I  am  apt  to  feel  weak  after  it. 
What  are  you  going  to  do  this  afternoon,  Paul  ?  " 
.  "  I'll  try  to  sell  out  the  rest  of  my  stock  of  pack- 
ages. Perhaps  I  shan't  succeed,  but  I'll  do  my  best. 
Shall  you  have  another  picture  to  show  me  when  I 
come  back  to-night,  Jimmy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Paul,  I  love  to  draw.  I'm  going  to  try  this 
castle." 

"It's  rather  hard,  isn't  it?" 

"  I  can  do  it,"  said  Jimmy,  confidently. 


^2  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

Paul  left  the  room  with  his  basket  on  his  arm. 

He  was  drawn  by  curiosity  to  the  spot  where  he 
had  met  with  his  first  success,  as  well  as  his  first 
failure, — the  front  of  the  post-office.  Here  he  be- 
came witness  to  an  unexpectedly  lively  scene;  in 
other  words,  a  fight,  in  which  Teddy  Brien  and  his 
confederate  Mike  were  the  contestants.  To  explain 
the  cause  of  the  quarrel,  it  must  be  stated  that  it 
related  to  a  division  of  the  spoils. 

Teddy  had  sold  out  his  last  package,  seventy-five 
in  number.  For  these  he  had  received  five  cents 
apiece,  making  in  all  three  dollars  and  seventy-five 
cents,  of  which  all  but  a  dollar  and  seventy-five 
cents,  representing  the  value  of  the  prizes  and  the 
original  cost  of  the  packages  and  their  contents,  was 
profit.  Now,  according  to  the  arrangement  entered 
into  between  him  and  J\Iike,  the  latter,  for  his  services 
as  decoy,  was  to  receive  one  cent  on  every  package 
sold.  This,  however,. seemed  to  Teddy  too  much  to 
pay,  so  when  the  time  of  reckoning  came,  he  stoutly 
asseverated  that  there  were  but  sixty  packages. 

"That  don^t  go  down,"  said  Mike,  indignantly; 
"  it's  nearer  a  hundred." 

"  No,  it  isn't.  It's  only  sixty.  You've  got  the 
fifty  cents,  and  I'll  give  you  ten  more." 

"  You  must  give  me  the  whole  sixty,  then,"  said 
Mike,  changing  his  ground.  "  I  drawed  the  fifty  as  a 
prize." 

Teddy  was  struck  with  astonishment  at  the  impu- 
dence of  this  assumption, 

"  It  wasn't  no  prize,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,  it  was,"  said  Mike.  "  You  said  so  yourself. 
Didn't  he,  Jim?" 

Jim,  who  was  also  a  confederate,  but  had  agreed  to 
accept  twenty-five  cents  in  full  for  services  rendered, 
promptly  answered: — 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     33 

**  Shure  Mike's  right.    It  was  a  prize  he  drew.'^ 

"  You  want  to  chate  me ! ''  said  Teddy,  angrily. 

"What  have  you  been  doin'  all  the  mornin'?" 
demanded  Mike.  "You're  the  chap  to  talk  about 
chatin',  ain't  you  ?  " 

"  I'll  give  you  twenty-five  cents/'  said  Teddy, 
"  and  that's  all  I  will  give  you.'^ 

"Then  you've  got  to  fight,"  said  Mike,  squaring 
off. 

"  Yes,  you've  got  to  fight ! "  chimed  in  Jim,  who 
thought  he  saw  a  chance  for  more  money. 

Teddy  looked  at  his  two  ejiemies,  each  of  whom 
was  probably  more  than  a  match  for  himself,  and  was 
not  long  in  deciding  that  his  best  course  was  to 
avoid  a  fight  by  running.  Accordingly  he  tucked 
all  the  money  into  his  pocket,  and,  turning  inconti- 
nently, fled  down  Liberty  Street,  closely  pursued  by 
his  late  confederates.  Paul  came  up  just  in  time  to 
hear  the  termination  of  the  dispute,  and  watch  the 
flight  of  his  late  business  rival. 

"  I  guess  Teddy  won't  go  into  the  business  again,'' 
he  reflected.     "  I  may  as  well  take  my  old  stand." 

Accordingly  he  once  more  installed  himself  on  the 
post-office  steps,  and  began  to  cry,  "  Prize  Pack- 
ages !    Only  five  cents !  " 

Having  no  competitor  now  to  interfere  with  his 
trade,  he  met  with  fair  success,  and  by  four  o'clock 
was  able  to  start  for  home  with  his  empty  basket, 
having  disposed  of  all  his  stock  in  trade. 

His  profits,  though  not  so  great  as  the  day  before, 
amounted  to  a  dollar. 

"  If  I  could  only  make  a  dollar  everv  day,"  thought 
Paul,  "  I  would  be  satisfied." 


34  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 


CHAPTEE  V. 

PAUL  LOSES  HIS  STOCK  IN  TRADE. 

Paul  continued  in  the  prize-package  business  for 
three  weeks.  His  success  varied,  but  he  never  made, 
less  than  seventy-five  cents  a  day,  and  sometimes 
as  much  as  a  dollar  and  a  quarter.  He  was  not 
without  competitors.  More  than  once,  on  reaching 
his  accustomed  stand,  he  found  a  rival  occupying  it 
before  him.  In  such  cases  he  quietly  passed  on, 
and  set  up  his  business  elsewhere,  preferring  to 
monopolize  the  trade,  though  the  location  might  not 
be  so  good. 

Teddy  Brien  did  not  again  enter  the  field.  We 
left  him,  at  the  end  of  the  last  chapter,  trying  to 
escape  from  Mike  and  Jim,  who  demanded  a  larger 
sum  than  he  was  willing  to  pay  for  their  services. 
He  succeeded  in  escaping  with  his  money,  but  the 
next  day  his  two  confederates  caught  him,  and 
Teddy  received  a  black  eye  as  a  receipt  in  full  of  all 
demands.  So,  on  the  whole,  he  decided  that  some 
other  business  would  suit  him  better,  and  resumed 
the  blacking-box,  which  he  had  abandoned  on  em- 
barking in  commercial  pursuits. 

Mike  Donovan  and  Jim  Parker  were  two  notori- 
ously bad  boys,  preferring  to  make  a  living  in  any 
other  way  than  by  honest  industry.  As  some  of 
these  ways  were  not  regarded  as  honest  in  the  sight 
of  the  law,  each  had  more  than  once  been  sentenced 
to   a   term    at    Blackwell's    Island.     They   made    a 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT,      gj 

proposition  to  Paul  to  act  as  decoy  d^icks  for  him  in 
the  same  way  as  for  Teddy;  but  he  declined  the 
proposal  without  much  ceremony.  He  liked  neither 
of  the  boys,  and  did  not  care  to  be  associated  with 
them.  This  refusal  Mike  and  Jim  resented,  and 
determined  to  "  pay  off "  Paul  if  they  ever  got  a 
chance.  Our  hero  from  time  to  time  saw  them 
hovering  about  him,  but  took  very  little  notice  of 
them.  He  knew  that  he  was  a  match  for  either, 
though  Mike  exceeded  him  in  size,  and  he  felt  quite 
capable  of  taking  care  of  hims'^M 

One  day  Mike  and  Jim,  whose  kindred  tastes  led 
them  to  keep  company,  met  at  the  corner  of  Liberty 
and  William  Streets.  Mike  looked  unusually  dilapi- 
dated. He  had  had  a  scuffle  the  day  before  with 
another  boy,  and  his  clothes,  already  well  ventilated, 
got  torn  in  several  extra  places.  As  it  was  very 
uncertain  when  he  would  be  in  a  financial  condition 
to  provide  himself  with  another  suit,  the  prospect 
was  rather  alarming.  Jim  Parker  looked  a  shade 
more  respectable  in  attire,  but  his  face  and  hands 
were  streaked  with  blacking.  To  this,  however, 
Jim  had  become  so  accustomed  that  he  would 
probably  have  felt  uncomfortable  with  a  clean  face. 

^' How  are  you  off  for  stamps,  Jim?'^  asked  Mike, 

"  Dead-broke,"  was  the  reply. 

"  So  am  I.    I  aint  had  no  breakfast." 

"  Nor  I  'cept  an  apple.    Couldn't  I  eat,  though  ? '' 

''  Suppose  we  borrow  a  quarter  of  Paul  Hoffman.'* 

"  He  wouldn't  lend  a  feller." 

'^  Not  if  he  knowed  it,"  said  Mike,  significantly. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Mike  ? "  asked  Jim,  witk" 
«ome  curiosity. 

"  We'll  borrow  without  leave." 

"How'll  wedoit?" 

«rU  tell  you,"  said  Mike. 


36  .  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

He  proceeded  to  unfold  his  plan,  which  was  briefly 
this.  The  two  were  to  saunter  up  to  where  Paul 
was  standing,  and  remain  until  the  group,  if  there 
were  any  around  him,  should  be  dispersed.  Then 
one  was  to  pull  his  hat  over  his  eyes,  while  the 
other  would  snatch  the  basket  containing  his  prize 
packages,  and  run  down  Liberty  Street,  never 
stopping  until  he  landed  in  a  certain  alley  known  tc 
both  boys.  The  other  would  run  in  a  different 
direction,  and  both  would  meet  as  soon  as  practi- 
cable for  the  division  of  the  spoils.  It  was  yet  so 
early  that  Paul  could  not  have  sold  many  from  his 
stock.  As  each  contained  a  prize,  varying  from  one 
penny  to  ten,  they  would  probably  realize  enough 
to  buy  a  good  breakfast,  besides  the  candy  contained 
in  the  packages.  More  money  might  be  obtained  by 
selling  the  packages,  but  there  was  risk  in  this. 
Beside,  it  would  take  time,  and  they  decided  that  a 
bird  in  the  hand  was  worth  two  in  the  bush. 

"That's  a  good  idea,''  said  Jim,  approvingly. 
"Who'll  knock  his  hat  over  his  head?  " 

"  You  can,"  said  Mike,  "  and  I'll  grab  the  basket.^ 
But  to  this  Jim  demurred,  for  two  reasons :  first,  he 
was  rather  afraid  of  Paul,  whose  strength  of  arm  he 
had  tested  on  a  previous  occasion;  and,  again,  he 
was  afraid  that  if  Mike  got  off  with  the  basket  he 
would  appropriate  the  lion's  share. 

"  I'll  grab  the  basket,"  he  said. 

"  Wliat  for  ?  "  said  Mike,  suspiciously,  for  he,  too, 
felt  some  distrust  of  his  confederate. 

"You're  stronger'n  I  am,  Mike,"  said  Jim. 
'^May'be  he'd  turn  on  me,  and  I  can't  find  him  as 
well  as  you." 

"That's  so,"  said  Mike,  who  had  rather  a  high 
idea  of  his  own  prowess,  and  felt  pleased  with  the 
compliment.    "  I'm  a  match  for  him.'* 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHAhT.      37 

"  Of  course  you  be/'  said  Jim,  artfully,  *'  and  he 
knows  it." 

"  Of  course  he  does,"  said  Mike,  boastfully.  **  I 
can  lick  him  with  one  hand." 

Jim  had  serious  doubts  of  this,  but  he  had  hii 
reasons  for  concurring  in  Mike's  estimate  of  hi?  own 
powers. 

"  We'd  better  start  now,"  said  Jim.  "  I'm  awful 
hungry." 

"  Come  along,  then."  l 

They  walked  up  Liberty  Street,  as  far  as  ?^assan. 
On  reaching  the  corner  they  saw  their  unconscious 
victim  at  his  usual  place.  It  was  rather  a  public 
place  for  an  assault,  and  both  boys  would  have  hes- 
itated had  they  not  been  incited  by  a  double  motive, 
— the  desire  of  gain  and  a  feeling  of  hostility. 

They  sauntered  along,  and  Mike  pressed  in  close 
by  Paul. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  asked  Paul,  not  liking  the 
vicinity. 

"  What's  that  to  you?  "  demanded  Mike. 

"  Quit  crowdin'  me." 

"  I  aint  crowdin'.  I've  got  as  much  right  to  be 
here  as  you." 

"  Here's  your  prize  packages ! "  exclaimed  Paul, 
in  a  business-like  tone. 

"  Maybe  I'll  buy  one  if  you'll  give  me  credit  till 
to-morrow,"  said  Mike. 

"  Your  credit  isn't  good  with  me,"  said  Paul. 
''  You  must  pay  cash  down." 

"  Then  you  won't  trust  me  ?  "  said  Mike,  pressing 
a  little  closer.  ' 

"  No,  I  won't,"  said  Paul,  decidedly.  v 

"  Then  take  that,  you  spalpeen ! "  said  Mike  sud- 
denly pulling  Paul's  hat  over  his  eyes. 

At  the  same  time,  Jim,  to  whom  he  had  tipped  a 


38  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

wink,  snatched  the  basket,  which  Paul  held  loosely  in 
his  hand,  and  disappeared  round  the  corner. 

The  attack  was  so  sudden  and  unexpected  that 
Paul  was  at  first  bewildered.  But  he  quickly  re- 
covered his  presence  of  mind,  and  saw  into  the  trick. 
He  raised  his  hat,  and  darted  in  pursuit  of  Mike,  not 
knowing  in  what  direction  his  basket  had  gone. 

"  That's  a  mean  trick  !  "  he  exclaimed  indignantly. 
"  Give  me  back  my  basket,  you  thief !  " 

"  I  aint  got  no  basket,"  said  Mike,  facing  round. 

^^  Then  you  know  where  it  is." 

"  I  don't  know  nothin'  of  your  basket." 

"You  pulled  my  hat  over  my  eyes  on  purpose  tc 
steal  my  basket." 

"  No,  I  didn't.  You  insulted  me,  that's  why  I 
did  it." 

"  Tell  me  where  my  basket  is,  or  I'll  lick  you/' 
said  Paul,  incensed. 

"  I  aint  nothin'  to  do  with  your  basket." 

"  Take  that,  then,  for  pulling  my  hat  over  my 
eyes,"  and  Paul,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  dealt 
Mike  a  staggering  blow  in  the  face. 

"  I'll  murder  you  !  "  shouted  Mike,  furiously,  dash- 
ing at  Paul  with  a  blow  which  might  have  levelled 
him,  if  he  had  not  fended  it  off. 

Paul  was  not  quarrelsome,  but  he  knew  how  to 
fight,  and  he  was  prepared  now  to  fight  in  earnest, 
indignant  as  he  was  at  the  robbery  which  entailed 
upon  him  a  loss  he  could  ill  sustain. 

"  I'll  give  you  all  you  want,"  he  said  resolutely, 
eying  Mike  warily,  and  watching  a  chance  to  give 
him  another  blow. 

The  contest  was  brief,  being  terminated  by  the 
sudden  and  unwelcome  arrival  of  a  policeman. 

"  What's  this  ?  "  he  asked  authoritatively,  survey- 
ing the  combatants ;  Paul,  with  his  flushed  face,  and 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      39 

Mike,  whose  nose  was  bleeding  freely  from  a  suc- 
cessful blow  of  his  adversary. 

"  He  pitched  into  me  for  nothin',"  said  Mike,  glar- 
ing at  Paul,  rubbing  his  bloody  nose  on  the  sleeve  of 
his  ragged  coat. 

"  That  isn't  true,"  said  Paul,  excited.  "  He  came 
up  while  I  was  selling  prize  packages  of  candy  in 
front  of  the  post-office,  and  pulled  my  hat  over  my 
eyes,  while  another  boy  grabbed  my  basket." 

"  You  lie  !  "  said  Mike.  "  I  don't  know  nothin'  of 
your  basket." 

"  Why  did  you  pull  his  hat  over  his  eyes  ?  "  asked 
the  policeman. 

"  Because  he  insulted  me." 

"  How  did  he  insult  you  ?  " 

"  He  wouldn't  trust  me  till  to-morrow." 

"I  don't  blame  him  much  for  that,"  said  the 
policeman,  who  was  aware  of  Mike's  shady  reputa- 
tion, having  on  a  former  occasion  been  under  J;he 
necessity  of  arresting  him.  Even  without  such  ac- 
quaintance, Mike's  general  appearance  would  hardly 
have  recommended  him  to  officer  Jones. 

"I'll  let  you  go  this  time,"  he  said,  "but  if  I 
catch  you  fighting  again  on  my  beat  I'll  march  you 
off  to  the  station-house." 

Mike  was  glad  to  escape,  though  he  would  almost 
have  been  willing  to  be  arrested  if  Paul  could  have 
been  arrested  also. 

The  officer  walked  away^,  and  Mike  started  down 
the  street. 

Paul  followed  him. 

This  didn't  suit  Mike's  ideas,  as  he  was  anxious 
to  meet  Jim  and  divide  the  spoils  with  him. 

"  What  are  you  follerin'  me  for  ?  "  he  demanded 
angrily. 

"  I  have  my  reasons,"  said  Paul. 


40  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"Then  you'd  better  stay  where  you  are.  Your 
company  aint  wanted." 

"  I  know  that/'  said  Paul,  "  but  I'm  going  to 
follow  you  till  I  find  my  basket." 

"  What  do  I  know  of  your  basket  ?  " 

"  That's  what  I  want  ito  find  out." 

Mike  saw,  by  Paul's  resolute  tone,  that  he  meant 
what  he  said.  Desirous  of  shaking  him  off,  he 
started  on  a  run. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PAUL   AS   AN   ARTIST. 

.*AUL  was  not  slow  in  following  Mike.  He  was  a 
good  runner,  and  would  have  had  no  difficulty  in 
keeping  up  with  his  enemy  if  the  streets  had  been 
empty.  But  to  thread  his  way  in  and  out  among  the 
numerous  foot-passengers  that  thronged  the  side- 
walks was  not  so  easy.  He  kept  up  pretty  well, 
however,  until,  in  turning  a  street  corner,  he  ran  at 
full  speed  into  a  very  stout  gentleman,  whose  scanty 
wind  was  quite  knocked  out  of  him  by  the  collision. 
He  glared  in  anger  at  Paul,  but  could  not  at  first 
obtain  breath  enough  to  speak. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  Paul,  who,  in  spite 
of  his  desire  to  overtake  Mike,  felt  it  incumbent  upon 
him  to  stop  and  offer  an  apology. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir,"  exploded  the  fat  man, 
ftt  last,  "by  tearing  through  the  streets  like  a  loco- 
motive?    You've  nearly  killed  me." 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  sir." 

*^  You  ought  to  be.    Don't  you  know  better  than 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      41 

to  run  at  such  speed  ?  You  ought  to  be  indicted  as  a 
public  nuisance." 

"  I  was  trying  to  catch  a  thief,"  said  Paul. 

"  Trying  to  catch  a  thief  ?  How's  that  ?  "  asked 
the  stout  gentleman,  his  indignation  giving  way  to 
curiosity. 

"  I  was  selling  packages  in  front  of  the  post-office, 
when  he  and  another  boy  came  up  and  stole  my 
basket." 

"  Indeed  !    What  were  you  selling  ?  " 

"  Prize  packages,  sir." 

"  What  was  in  them  ?  " 

"  Candy." 

"  Could  you  make  much  that  way  ?  " 

"  About  a  dollar  a  day." 

*^  I'd  rather  have  given  you  a  dollar  than  had  you 
run  against  me  with  such  violence.    I  feel  it  yet." 

"  Indeed,  sir,  I'm  very  sorry." 

"  Well,  I'll  forgive  you,  under  the  circumstances. 
What's  your  name  ?  " 

"  Paul  Hoffman." 

"  Well,  I  hope  you'll  get  back  your  basket.  Some 
time,  if  you  see  me  in  the  street,  come  up  and  let  me 
know.    Would  you  know  me  again  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  should,  sir." 

"  Well,  good-morning.  I  hope  you'll  catch  the 
thief." 

"  I  thank  you,  sir." 

They  parted  company,  but  Paul  did  not  continue 
the  pursuit.  The  conversation  in  which  he  had  taken 
part  had  lasted  so  long  that  Mike  had  had  plenty  of 
time  to  find  a  refuge,  and  there  would  be  no  use  in 
following  him. 

So  Paul  went  home. 

"You  are  home  early,  Paul,"  said  his  mother. 
**  Surely  ^u  haven't  sold  out  by  this  time." 


42  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR. 

"  No,  but  all  my  packages  are  gone/* 

"How  is  that?" 

"  They  were  stolen." 

"  Tell  me  about  it." 

So  Paul  told  the  story. 

"  That  Mike  was  awful  mean,"  said  Jimmy,  in- 
dignantly.   "  Pd  like  to  hit  him." 

"  I  don't  think  you  would  hurt  him  much,  Jimmy,** 
said  Paul,  amused  at  his  little  brother's  vehe- 
mence. 

"  Then  I  wish  I  was  a  big,  strong  boy,"  said  Jimmy. 

"  I  hope  you  will  be  some  time." 

"  How  much  was  your  loss,  Paul  ? "  asked  his 
mother. 

"  There  were  nearly  forty  packages.  They  cost 
me  about  a  dollar,  but  if  I  had  sold  them  all  they 
would  have  brought  me  in  twice  as  much.  I  had  only 
sold  ten  packages." 

"  Shall  you  make  some  more  ?  " 

"No,  I  "think  not,"  said  Paul.  "I've  got  tired  of 
the  business.  It's  getting  poorer  every  day.  I'll  go 
out  after  dinner,  and  see  if  I  can't  find  something 
else  to  do." 

"You  aint  going  out  now.  Paul?"  said  Jimmy. 

"  Xo,  ril  stop  and  see  vou  draw  a  little  while.'^ 

"  That's  bully.    I'm  going  to  try  these  oxen." 

"  That's  a  hard  picture.  I  don't  think  you  can 
draw  it,  Jimmy." 

"  Yes,  I  can."  said  the  little  boy  confidently.  "  Just 
see  if  I  don't." 

"  Jimmy  has  improved  a  good  deal,"  said  his 
mother. 

"  You'll  be  a  great  artist  one  of  these  days,  Jimmy/' 
said  Paul. 

"  I'm  going  to  try,  Paul,"  said  the  little  boy.  "  I 
like  it  so  much." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     43 

Little  Jiminy  had  indeed  made  surprising  progress 
in  drawing.  With  no  instruction  whatever  he  had 
succeeded  in  a  very  close  and  accurate  imitation  of 
the  sketches  in  the  drawing-books  Paul  had  pur- 
chased for  him.  It  was  a  great  delight  to  the  little 
boy  to  draw,  and  hour  after  hour,  as  his  mother  sat 
at  her  work,  he  sat  up  to  the  table,  and  worked  at 
his  drawing,  scarcely  speaking  a  word  unless  spoken 
to,  so  absorbed  was  he  in  his  fascinating  employ- 
ment. 

Paul  watched  him  attentively. 

"  You'll  make  a  bully  artist,  Jimmy,"  he  said  at 
length,  really  surprised  at  his  little  brother's  profi- 
ciency. "  If  you  keep  on  a  little  longer,  you'll  beat 
me." 

"  I  wish  3'ou'd  draw  something,  Paul,"  said  Jimmy. 
"  I  never  saw  any  of  your  drawings." 

"  I  am  afraid,  if  you  saw  mine,  it  would  discourage 
you,"  said  Paul.  "  You  know  I'm  older  and  ought 
to  draw  better." 

His  face  was  serious,  but  there  was  a  merry 
twinkle  of  fun  in  his  eyes. 

"Of  course  I  know  you  draw  better,"  said  Jimmy, 
seriously. 

"What  shall  I  draw?"  asked  Paul. 

"  Try  this  horse,  Paul." 

"  All  right !  "  said  Paul.  "  But  you  must  go  away ; 
I  don't  want  you  to  see  it  till  it  is  done." 

Jimmy  left  the  table,  and  Paul  commenced  his 
attempt.  Now,  though  Paul  is  the  hero  of  my  story, 
I  am  bound  to  gonfess  that  he  had  not  the  slightest 
talent  for  drawing:,  thousfh  Jimmy  did  not  know  it. 
It  was  only  to  afford  his  little  brother  amusement  that 
he  now  undertook  the  task. 

Paul  worked  away  for  about  five  minutes. 

"  It's  done,"  he  said. 


^  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  So  quick  ?  *'  exclaimed  Jimmy,  in  surprise. 
"  How  fast  you  work !  '* 

He  drew  near  and  inspected  Paul's  drawing.  He 
had  no  sooner  inspected  it  than  he  burst  into  a  fit 
of  laughter.  PauFs  drawing  was  a  very  rough  one, 
and  such  a  horse  as  he  had  drawn  will  never  probably 
be  seen  until  the  race  has  greatlv  degenerated. 

"  What's  the  matter,  Jimmy?  ''  asked  Paul. ''  Don't 
you  like  it  ?  " 

"  It's  awful,  Paul,"  said  the  little  boy,  almost 
choking  with  mirth. 

"  I  see  how  it  is,"  said  Paul,  with  feigned  resent- 
ment. "  You're  jealous  of  me  because  you  can't  draw 
as  well." 

"  0  Paul,  3^ou'll  kill  me !  "  and  Jimmy  again  burst 
into  a  fit  of  merriment.  "  Can't  you  really  draw  any 
better?" 

"  No,  Jimmy,"  said  Paul,  joining  in  the  laugh. 
"  I  can't  draw  any  better  than  an  old  cow.  You've 
got  all  the  talent  in  the  family  in  that  line." 

"  But  you're  smart  in  other  ways,  Paul,"  said 
Jimmy,  who  had  a  great  admiration  of  Paul,  not- 
withstanding the  discovery  of  his  artistic  inferiority. 

"I'm  glad  there's  one  that  thinks  so,  Jimmy," 
said  Paul.  "  I'll  refer  to  you  when  I  want  a  recom- 
mendation." 

Jimmy  resumed  his  drawing,  and  was  proud  of  the 
praises  which  Paul  freely  bestowed  upon  him. 

"  I'll  get  you  a  harder  drawing-book  when  you've 
got  through  with  these,"  said  Paul,  "that  is,  if  I 
don't  get  reduced  to  poverty  by  having  my  stock  in 
trade  stolen  again." 

After  a  while  came  dinner.  This  meal  in  Mrs. 
Hoffman's  household  usually  came  at  twelve  o'clock. 
It  was  a  phin,  frugal  meal  always,  but  on  Sunday 
they  usually  managed  to  have  something  a  Little  bet- 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      45 

ter,  as  they  had  been  accustomed  to  do  when  Mr. 
Hoffman  was  alive. 

Paul  was  soon  through. 

He  took  his  hat  from  the  bureau,  and  prepared  to 
go  out. 

"  I'm  going  out  to  try  my  luck,  mother,"  he  said. 
"I'll  see  if  I  can't  get  into  something  I  like  a  little 
better  than  the  prize-package  business." 

"  I  hope  you'll  succeed,  Paul." 

"Better  than  I  did  in  drawing  horses,  eh, 
Jimmy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  hope  so,  Paul,"  said  the  little  boy. 

"Don't  you  show  that  horse  to  visitors  and  pre- 
tend it's  yours,  Jimmy." 

"  No  danger,  Paul." 

Paul  went  downstairs  and  into  the  street.  He  had 
no  definite  plan  in  his  head,  but  was  ready  for  any- 
thing that  might  turn  up.  He  did  not  feel  anxious, 
for  he  knew  there  were  plenty  of  ways  in  which  he 
could  earn  something.  He  had  never  tried  blacking 
boots,  but  still  he  could  do  it  in  case  of  emergenc}^ 
He  had  sold  papers,  and  succeeded  fairly  in  that  line, 
and  knew  he  could  again.  He  had  pitted  himself 
against  other  boys,  and  the  result  had  been  to  give 
him  a  certain  confidence  in  his  own  powers  and 
business  abilities.  When  he  had  first  gone  into  the 
street  to  try  his  chances  there,  it  had  been  with  a 
degree  of  diffidence.  But  knocking  about  the  streets 
soon  gives  a  boy  confidence,  sometimes  too  much  of 
it,  and  Paul  had  learned  to  rely  upon  himself;  but 
the  influence  of  a  good,  though  humble  home,  and  a 
judicious  mother,  had  kept  him  aloof  from  the  bad 
habits  into  which  many  street  boys  are  led. 

So  Paul,  though  his  stock  in  trade  had  been  stolen, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  seek  a  new  kind  of  business, 
was  by  no  means  disheartened.    He  walked  a  little 


46  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

way  down  town,  and  then  crossing  the  City  Hall 
Park,  found  himself  on  Broadway. 

A  little  below  the  Astor  House  he  came  to  the 
stand  of  a  sidewalk-merchant  who  dealt  in  neck-ties. 
Upon  an  upright  frame-work  hung  a  great  variety  of 
ties  of  different  colors,  most  of  which  were  sold  at 
the  uniform  price  of  twenty-five  cents  each. 

Paul  was  acquainted  with  the  proprietor  of  the 
etand,  and,  having  nothing  else  to  do,  determined  to 
stop  and  speak  to  him. 


CHAPTER  VIL 

IN   A   NEW   BUSINESS. 

The  proprietor  of  the  neck-tie  stand  was  a  slender, 
dark-complexioned  young  man  of  about  twenty-five, 
or  thereabouts.  His  name  was  George  Barry.  Paul 
had  known  him  for  over  a  year,  and  whenever  he 
passed  his  stand  was  accustomed  to  stop  and  speak 
with  him. 

"  Well,  George,  how's  business?"  asked  Paul. 

''  Fair,"  said  Barry.  "  That  isn't  what's  the  mat- 
ter." 

"What  is  it,  then?" 

"  I'm  sick.    I  ought  not  to  be  out  here  to-day.'* 

"  AVliat's  the  matter  with  you  ?  " 

"  I've  caught  a  bad  cold,  and  feel  hot  and  feverish. 
I  ousrht  to  be  at  home  and  abed." 

"Why  don't  you  go?" 

"  I  can't  leave  my  business." 

"  It's  better  to  do  that  than  to  get  a  bad  sick' 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     ^^ 

"  I  suppose  it  is.  I  am  afraid  I  am  going  to  have 
a  fever.  One  minute  I'm  hot,  another  I'm  cold. 
But  I  can't  afford  to  close  up  my  business." 

"  Why  don't  you  get  somebody  to  take  your  place  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  anybody  I  could  get  that  I  could 
trust.  They'd  sell  my  goods,  and  make  off  with  the 
money." 

"  Can  you  trust  me  ? "  asked  Paul,  who  saw  a 
chance  to  benefit  himself  as  well  as  his  friend. 

"  Yes,  Paul,  I  could  trust  you,  but  I'm  afraid  I 
couldn't  pay  you  enough  to  make  it  worth  while  for 
you  to  stand  here." 

"I  haven't  got  anything  to  do  just  now,"  said 
Paul.  "  I  was  in  the  prize-package  business,  but 
two  fellows  stole  my  stock  in  trade,  and  I'm  not 
going  into  it  again.  It's  about  played  out.  I'm 
your  man.    Just  make  me  an  oifer." 

"  I  should  like  to  have  you  take  my  place  for  a  day 
or  two,  for  I  know  you  wouldn't  cheat  me." 

"You  may  be  sure  of  that." 

"  I  am  sure.  I  know  you  are  an  honest  boy,  Paul. 
But  I  don't  know  what  to  offer  you." 

"  How  many  neck-ties  do  you  sell  a  day  ?  "  asked 
Paul,  in  a  business-like  tone. 

"  About  a  dozen  on  an  average." 

"  And  how  much  profit  do  you  make?  " 

"  It's  half  profit." 

Paul  made  a  short  calculation.  Twelve  neck-ties 
at  twenty-five  cents  each  would  bring  three  dollars. 
Half  of  this  was  a  dollar  and  a  half. 

"I'll  take  your  place  for  half  profits,"  he  said. 

"That's  fair,"  said  George  Barry.  "I'll  accept 
your  offer.    Can  you  begin  now  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  I'll  go  home  and  go  to  bed.  It's  the  best 
place  for  me." 


|.g  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

*'  You'd  better.  I'll  come  round  after  closing  np^ 
and  hand  over  the  money." 

"  All  right !     You  know  where  I  live  ?  " 

'^  I'm  not  sure." 

"  No.  —  Bleecker  Street." 

*'  I'll  come  up  this  evening." 

George  Barry  walked  away,  leaving  Paul  in  charge 
of  his  business.  He  did  so  with  perfect  confidence. 
Kot  every  boy  in  Paul's  circumstances  can  be  trusted, 
but  he  felt  sure  that  Paul  would  do  the  right  thing 
by  him. 

I  may  as  well  say,  in  this  connection,  that  George 
Barry  had  a  mother  living.  They  occupied  two  rooms 
in  a  lodging-house  in  Bleecker  Street,  and  lived  very 
comfortably.  Mrs.  Barry  had  an  allowance  of  two 
hundred  dollars  a  year  from  a  relation.  This,  with 
what  she  earned  by  sewing,  and  her  son  by  his  stand, 
supported  them  very  comfortably,  especially  as  they 
provided  and  cooked  their  own  food,  which  was,  of 
course,  much  cheaper  than  boarding. ,  Still  the  loss 
of  the  young  man's  earnings,  even  for  a  short  time, 
would  have  been  felt,  though  they  had  a  reserve  of  a 
hundred  dollars  in  a  savinfjs-bank,  from  which  they 
might  draw  if  necessary.  But  George  did  not  like  to 
do  this.  The  arrangement  which  he  made  with  Paul 
was  a  satisfactory  one,  for  with  half  his  usual  earn- 
ings they  would  still  be  able  to  keep  out  of  debt,  and 
not  be  compelled  to  draw  upon  the  fund  in  the  bank. 
Of  course  something  depended  on  Paul's  success  as  a 
salesman,  but  he  would  not  be  likely  to  fall  much 
below  the  average  amount  of  sales.  So,  on  the  whole, 
George  Barry  went  home  considerably  relieved  in 
mind,  though  his  head  was  throbbing,  and  he  felt 
decidedly  sick. 

Arrived  at  home,  his  mother,  who  understood  sick* 
ness,  at  once  took  measures  to  relieve  him. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      49 

*'  Don't  mind  the  loss  of  a  few  days,  George,"  she 
said,  cheerfully ;  "  we  shall  be  able  to  get  along  very 
well/' 

"It'll  only  be  part  loss,  mother,"  he  said.  "I've 
got  Paul  Hoffman  to  take  my  place  for  half  the 
profits." 

"  Paul  Hoffman !    Do  I  know  him  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  he  has  ever  been  here,  but  I  have 
known  him  for  a  year." 

"  Can  3^ou  trust  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I'm  not  at  all  afraid.  He  is  a  smart  boy, 
and  as  honest  as  he  is  smart.  I  think  he  will  sell 
nearly  as  much  as  I  would." 

"  That  is  an  excellent  arrangement.  You  needn't 
feel  uneasy  then." 

"  ISTo,  the  business  will  go  on  right." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  your  salesman." 

"You'll  see  him  to-night,  mother.  He's  coming 
round  this  evening  to  let  me  know  how  he's  got 
along,  and  hand  over  the  money  he's  taken." 

"  You'd  better  be  quiet  now,  George,  and  go  to 
sleep,  if  you  can.  I'll  make  you  some  warm  tea  I 
think  it'll  do  you  good." 

Meanwhile  Paul  assumed  charge  of  George  Barry's 
business.  He  was  sorry  his  friend  was  sick,  but  he 
congratulated  himself  on  getting  into  business  so 
soon. 

"  It's  more  respectable  than  selling  prize  pack- 
ages," thought  Paul.  "  I  wish  I  had  a  stand  of  my 
own." 

He  was  still  a  street  merchant,  but  among  street 
merchants  there  are  grades  as  well  as  among  mer- 
chants whose  claim  to  higher  respectability  rests  upon 
having  rent  to  pay.  Paul  felt  that  it  was  almost 
like  having  a  shop  of  his  own.  He  had  always 
looked  up  to  George  Barry  as  standing  higher  than 


50  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

himself  in  a  business  way,  and  he  felt  that  eves  if 
his  earnings  should  not  be  as  great,  that  it  was  a 
step  upward  to  have  sole  charge  of  his  stand,  if  only 
for  a  day  or  two, 

PauFs  ambition  was  aroused.  It  was  for  his  in- 
terest to  make  as  large  sales  as  possible.  Besides, 
he  thought  he  would  like  to  prove  to  George  Barry 
that  he  had  made  a  good  selection  in  appointing  him 
his  substitute. 

Now,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  George  Barry  him- 
self was  not  possessed  of  superior  business  ability. 
He  was  lacking  in  energy  and  push.  He  could  sell 
neck-ties  to  those  who  asked  for  them,  but  had  no 
particular  talent  for  attracting  trade.  He  would 
have  been  a  fair  clerk,  but  was  never  Rkely  to  rise 
above  a  very  moderate  success.  Paul  was  quite  dif- 
ferent. He  was  quick,  enterprising,  and  smart.  He 
was  a  boy  likely  to  push  his  way  to  success  un- 
less circumstances  were  very  much  against  him. 

"  I'd  like  to  sell  more  than  George  Barry,"  he 
said  to  himself.  "I  don't  know  if  I  can,  but  I'm 
going  to  try." 

The  day  was  half  over,  and  probably  the  most 
profitable,  so  far  as  business  was  concerned.  Paul 
had  only  four  or  five  hours  left. 

"  Let  me  see,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I  ought  to 
sell  six  neck-ties  to  come  up  to  the  average  of  half  a 
day's  sale.    I  wonder  whether  1  can  do  it." 

As  his  soliloquy  ended,  his  quick  eye  detected  a 
young  man  glancing  at  his  stock,  and  he  observed 
that  he  paused  irresolutely,  as  if  half  inclined  to  pur- 
chase. 

"  Can't  I  sell  you  a  neck-tie  to-day  ?  "  asked  Paul, 
promptly. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  the  other.  "  What  do  you 
charge  ?  " 


ADVENTURES  AF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      51 

"You  can  have  your  choice  for  twenty-five  cents. 
That  ie  cheap,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that's  cheap.    Let  me  look  at  them." 

"  Here's  one  that  will  suit  your  complexion/'  said 
Paul. 

"  Yes,  that's  a  pretty  one.    I  think  I'll  take  it." 

"  You'd  have  to  pay  twice  as  much  in  the  shops,** 
continued  Paul,  as  he  rolled  it  up.  "  You  see  we 
have  no  rent  to  pay,  and  so  we  can  sell  cheap.  You'll 
gave  money  by  always  buying  your  neck-ties  here." 

"  The  only  objection  to  that  is,  that  I  don't  live 
in  the  city,  I  am  here  only  for  a  day.  I  live  about 
fifty  miles  in  the  countrv." 

"Then  I'll  tell  you  what  you'd  better  do."  said 
Paul.  "  Lay  in  half  a  dozen,  while  you  are  about 
it.  It'll  only  be  a  dollar  and  a  half,  and  you'll  save 
as  much  as  that  by  doing  it." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right,"  said  his  cus- 
tomer, whom  the  suggestion  impressed  favorably. 
"  As  you  say,  it's  only  a  dollar  and  a  half,  and  it'll 
give  me  a  good  stock." 

"Let  me  pick  them  out  for  you,"  said  Paul, 
brisklv,  "  unless  there's  something  you  see  yourself." 

"I^like  that  one." 

"  All  right.    What  shall  be  the  next  ?  " 

Finally  the  young  man  selected  the  entire  half 
dozen,  and  deposited  a  dollar  and  a  half  in  Paul's 
hands. 

"  Come  and  see  me  again,"  said  Paul ;  "  and  if 
you  have  any  friends  coming  to  the  city  send  them  to 
me." 

"  T  will,"  said  the  other. 

"  Tell  them  it's  the  first  stand  south  of  the  Astor 
House.    Then  they  won't  miss  it." 

"That's  a  good  beginning,"  said  Paul  to  himself 
with  satisfaction.     "Half  a  day's  average  sales  al- 


52  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

ready,  and  I've  only  been  here  fifteen  minutes.  Let 
me  see,  what  will  my  profits  be  on  that?  Three 
shillings,  I  declare.    That  isn't  so  bad  now !  " 

Paul  had  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  himself.  If 
he  had  not  spoken,  the  young  man  would  very  prob- 
ably have  gone  on  without  purchasing  at  all,  or  at 
any  rate  remained  content  with  a  single  neck-tie. 
Paul's  manner  and  timely  word  had  increased  his 
purchase  sixfold.  That  is  generally  the  difference 
between  a  poor  salesman  and  one  of  the  first  class. 
Anybody  can  sell  to  those  who  are  anxious  to  buy; 
but  it  takes  a  smart  man  to  persuade  a  customer  that 
he  wants  what  otherwise  he  would  go  without.  The 
difference  in  success  is  generally  appreciated  by  deal- 
ers, and  a  superior  salesman  is  generally  paid  a  hand- 
some salary. 

"  I  don't  believe  George  Barry  would  have  sold 
that  man  so  many  ties,"  thought  Paul.  "  I  hope  I 
shall  have  as  good  luck  next  time." 

But  this  of  course  was  not  to  be  expected.  It  is 
not  every  customer  who  can  be  persuaded  to  buy 
half-a-dozen  ties,  even  by  the  most  eloquent  of  sales- 
men. However,  in  the  course  of  an  hour  more,  Paul 
had  sold  three  more  to  single  customers.  Then  came 
a  man  who  bought  two.  Then  there  was  a  lull,  and 
for  an  hour  Paul  sold  none  at  all.  But  business  im- 
proved a  little  toward  the  close  of  the  afternoon,  and 
when  it  was  time  to  close  up,  our  young  merchant 
found  that  he  had  disposed  of  fifteen. 

"  My  share  of  the  profits  will  be  ninety-three 
cents,"  thought  Paul,  with  satisfaction.  "  That  isn't 
bad  f^  £  ^n  afternoon's  work." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     5iJ*' 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

A  STROKE  OF  ILL  LUCK. 

Paul  transferred  his  frame  of  goods  to  a  neighbor- 
ing office  at  the  end  of  the  afternoon,  the  arrange- 
ment ^having  been  made  by  George  Barry,  on  first 
entering  into  business  as  a  street  merchant.  This 
saved  a  good  deal  of  trouble,  as  otherwise  he  would 
have  been  compelled  to  carry  them  home  every  night 
and  bring  them  back  in  the  morning. 

"  Well,  Paul,"  asked  his  mother,  when  he  returned 
to  supper,  "  have  you  found  anything  to  do  yet  ?  '^ 

^^I  ha\t^  got  employment  for  a  few  days,"  said 
Paul,  "  to  tend  a  neck-tie  stand.  The  man  that  keeps 
it  is  sick." 

"  How  much  does  he  pay  you,  Paul  ? "  asked 
Jimmy. 

^^  Half  the  profits.  How  much  do  you  think  I 
made  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  Forty  cents." 

"  What  do  you  say  to  ninety-three  cents  ?  Just 
look  at  this ; "  and  Paul  displayed  his  earnings. 

"  That  is  excellent." 

"I  had  good  luck.  Generally  I  shan't  make  more 
in  a  whole  day  than  this." 

"  That  will  be  doing  very  well." 

^^But  I  shall  make  more  if  I  can.  One  fellow 
bought  six  neck-ties  of  me  this  afternoon.  I  wish 
everybody  would  do  that    Now,  mother,  I  hope  sup- 


54  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

per  is  most  ready,  for  selling  neck-ties  has  made  me 
hungry." 

"  Almost  ready,  Paul." 
^  It  was  an  humble  meal,  but  a  good  one.  There 
were  fresh  rolls  and  butter,  tea,  and  some  cold  meat. 
That  was  all;  but  the  cloth  was  clean,  and  every- 
thing looked  neat.  All  did  justice  to  the  plain  meal, 
and  never  thought  of  envying  the  thousands,  who,  in 
their  rich  up-town  mansions,  were  sitting  down  at  the 
same  hour  to  elaborate  dinners  costing  more  than 
their  entire  week's  board. 

"  Are  you  going  out,  Paul  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Hoff- 
man, noticing  that  he  took  his  hat. 

"  Yes,  I  must  go  and  see  George  Barry,  and  carry 
the  money  I  have  received  for  sales." 

"  Where  does  he  live  ?  " 

"  In  Bleecker  Street.    I  shan't  be  gone  long." 

Paul  reached  the  number  which  had  been  given 
him.  It  was  a  large  four-story  house,  with  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  barracks. 

"  Mr.  Barry,"  said  the  servant,  in  answer  to  his 
question, — "  he  lives  upstairs  on  the  fourth  floor. 
Room  on  the  right." 

Paul  plodded  his  way  upstairs,  and  found  the  room 
without  difficulty. 

On  knocking,  the  door  was  opened  by  Mrs.  Barry, 
who  looked  at  him  inquiringly. 

"  Does  George  Barry  live  here  ?  "  asked  Paul. 

"Yes.  Are  you  the  one  he  left  in  charge  of  his 
business  ?  " 

Paul  answered  in  the  affirmative,  adding,  "  How  is 
he?" 

"  He  seems  quite  feverish.  I  am  afraid  he  is  going 
to  have  a  fever.  It's  fortunate  that  he  came  home. 
He  was  not  able  to  attend  to  his  business." 

"Can  I  see  him?" 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      55 

"  Come  in,"  said  Mrs.  Barry. 

The  room  was  covered  with  a  worn  carpet,  but 
looked  neat  and  comfortable.  There  was  a  cheap 
sewing-machine  in  one  corner,  and  some  plain  furni- 
ture. There  was  a  bedroom  opening  out  of  this 
room,  and  here  it  was  that  George  Barry  lay  upon 
the  bed. 

^^  Is  that  Paul  Hoffman,  mother  ?  "  was  heard  from 
the  bedroom. 

"  Yes,"  said  Paul,  answering  for  himself. 

"Go  in,  if  you  like,"  said  Mrs.  Barry.  "My  son 
wishes  to  see  you." 

"  How  do  you  feel  now,  George  ?  "  asked  Paul. 

"  Not  very  well,  Paul.  I  didn't  give  up  a  minute 
too  soon.    I  think  I  am  going  to  have  a  fever." 

"  That  is  not  comfortable,"  said  Paul.  "  Still  yon 
have  your  mother  to  take  care  of  you." 

"  I  don't  know  how  I  should  get  along  without  her. 
Can  you  look  after  my  business  as  long  as  I  am 
sick?" 

"  Yes ;  I  have  nothing  else  to  do." 

"  Then  that  is  off  my  mind.  By  the  way,  how 
many  ties  did  you  sell  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  Fifteen." 

"  What !  "  demanded  Barry,  in  surprise.  "  You  sold 
fifteen?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Why,  I  never  sold  so  many  as  that  in  an  after- 
noon." 

"Didn't  you?"  said  Paul,  gratified.  "Then  you 
think  I  did  well?" 

"  Splendidly.    How  did  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  You  see  there  was  a  young  man  from  the  coun- 
try that  I  persuaded  to  buy  six,  as  he  could  not  get 
them  so  cheap  at  home.  That  was  my  first  sale,  and 
it  encouraged  me." 


56  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"I  didn't  think  you'd  sell  more  than  six  in  the 
whole  afternoon." 

"  Nor  did  I  when  I  started ;  but  I  determined  to 
do  my  best.    I  don't  expect  to  do  as  well  every  day.** 

"  No,  of  course  not.  I've  been  in  the  business 
more  than  a  year,  and  I  know  what  it  is.  Some 
days  are  very  dull." 

"  I've  got  the  money  for  you.  The  fifteen  ties 
came  to  three  dollars  and  seventy-five  cents.  I  keep 
a  quarter  of  this  as  my  commission.  That  leaves  two 
dollars  and  eighty-two  cents." 

"  Quite  correct.  However,  you  needn't  give  me 
the  money.  You  may  need  to  change  a  bill,  or  else 
lose  a  sale.  It  will  do  if  you  settle  with  me  at  the 
end  of  the  week." 

"  I  see  you  have  confidence  in  me,  George.  Sup- 
pose I  should  take  a  fancy  to  run  away  with  the 
money  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  afraid." 

"  If  I  do,  I  will  give  you  warning  a  week  before- 
hand." 

After  a  little  more  conversation,  Paul  withdrew 
thinking  he  might  worry  the  sick  man.  He  offered 
to  come  up  the  next  evening,  but  George  Barry  said, 
"  It  would  be  too  much  to  expect  you  to  come  up 
every  evening.  I  shall  be  satisfied  if  you  come  up 
every  other  evening." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Paul.  "  Then  you  may  expect 
me  Saturday.  I  hope  I  shall  have  some  good  sales 
to  report,  and  that  I  shall  find  you  better." 

Paul  descended  to  the  street,  and  walked  slowly 
homeward.  He  couldn't  help  wishing  that  the  stand 
was  his  own,  and  the  entire  profits  his.  This  would 
double  his  income,  and  enable  him  to  save  up  money. 
At  present  this  was  hardly  possible.  His  own  earn- 
ings had  been,  and  were  likely  to  continue,  very 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      57 

fluctuating.  Still  they  constituted  the  main  support 
of  the  family.  His  mother  made  shirts  for  an  estab- 
lishment on  Broadway  at  twenty-five  cents  each, 
which  was  more  than  some  establishments  paid.  She 
could  hardly  average  more  than  one  shirt  a  day,  in 
addition  to  her  household  work;  and  in  order  to  ac- 
complish this  even,  she  was  obliged  to  work  very 
steadily  all  day.  Jimmy  of  course  earned  nothing. 
Not  that  he  was  too  young.  There  are  plenty  of 
little  newsboys  who  w^re  as  small  as  he — perhaps 
smaller.  I  have  seen  boys,  who  did  not  appear  to  he 
more  than  four  years  old,  standing  at  the  corners 
crying  the  news  in  their  childish  treble.  But  Paul 
was  not  willing  to  have  Jimmy  sent  out  into  the 
streets  to  undergo  the  rough  discipline  of  street  life. 
He  w^as  himself  of  a  strong,  robust  nature,  and  did 
not  shrink  from  the  rough  and  tumble  of  life.  He 
felt  sure  he  could  make  his  way,  and  give  as  well  as 
receive  blows.  But  Jimmy  was  shy  and  retiring,  »f 
a  timid,  shrinking  nature,  who  would  suffer  from 
what  would  only  exhilarate  Paul,  and  brace  him  for 
the  contest.  So  it  was  understood  that  Jimmy  was 
to  get  an  education,  studying  at  present  at  home 
with  his  mother,  who  had  received  a  good  education, 
and  that  Mrs.  Hoffman  and  Paul  were  to  be  the 
bread-winners.  "  I  wish  mother  didn't  have  to  sit 
so  steadily  at  her  work,"  thought  Paul,  many  a  time. 
He  resolved  some  time  to  relieve  her  from  the  neces- 
sity; but  at  present  it  was  impossible.  To  maintain 
their  small  family  in  comfort  required  all  that  both 
could  earn. 

The  next  morning  Paul  started  out  after  breakfast 
for  the  street  stand,  wondering  what  success  he  was 
destined  to  meet  with. 

About  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  Mrs.  HoflEman 
prepared  to  go  out. 


58  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  stay  alone  for  an  hour  or 
two,  Jimmy  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  mother/'  answered  Jimmy,  who  was  deep  in 
a  picture  which  he  was  copying  from  one  of  the 
drawing-books  Paul  had  bought  him.  "  Where  are 
you  going,  mother  ?  ^ 

"  To  carry  back  some  work,  Jimmy.  I  have  got 
half-a-dozen  shirts  done,  and  must  return  them,  and 
ask  for  some  more." 

"  They  ought  to  pay  you  more  than  twenty-five 
cents  a  piece,  mother.  How  long  has  it  taken  you  to 
make  them  ?  " 

"  Nearly  a  week." 

"  That  is  only  a  dollar  and  a  half  for  a  week's 
work." 

"  I  know  it,  Jimmy ;  but  they  can  get  plenty  to 
work  at  that  price,  so  it  won't  do  for  me  to  complain. 
I  shall  be  very  glad  if  I  can  get  steady  work,  even  at 
that  price." 

Jimmy  said  no  more,  and  Mrs.  Hoffman,  gathering 
up  her  bundle,  went  out. 

She  had  a  little  more  than  half  a  mile  to  go.  This 
did  not  require  long.  She  entered  the  large  store, 
and  advanced  to  the  counter,  behind  which  stood  a 
clerk  with  a  pen  behind  his  ear. 

"  How  many  ?  "  he  said,  as  she  laid  the  bundle  upon 
the  counter. 

"  Six." 

"  Name."  ^ 

"  Hoffman." 

"  Correct.    I  will  look  at  them." 

He  opened  the  bundle  hastily,  and  surveyed  the 
work  critically.  Luckily  there  was  no  fault  to  find; 
for  Mrs.  Hoffman  was  a  skilful  seamstress. 

"  They  will  do,"  he  said,  and,  taking  from  a  drawer 
the  stipulated  sum,  paid  for  them. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      59 

"Can  I  have  some  more?"  asked  Mrs.  Hoffman, 
anxiously. 

"  Not  to-day.  We're  overstocked  with  goods  made 
up.    We  must  contract  our  manufacture." 

This  was  unexpected,  and  carried  dismay  to  the 
heart  of  the  poor  woman.  What  she  could  earn  was 
very  little,  but  it  was  important  to  her. 

"  When  do  you  think  you  can  give  me  some  more 
-work  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  It  may  be  a  month  or  six  weeks/'  he  answered; 
carelessly. 

A  month  or  six  weeks!  To  have  her  supply  of 
work  cut  off  for  so  long  a  time  would,  indeed,  be  a 
dire  misfortune.  But  there  was  nothing  to  say. 
Mrs.  Hoffman  knew  very  well  that  no  one  in  the 
establishment  cared  for  her  necessities.  So,  with  a 
heavy  heart,  she  started  for  home,  making  up  her 
mind  to  look  elsewhere  for  work  in  the  afternoon. 
She  could  not  help  recalling,  with  sorrow,  the  time 
when  her  husband  was  living,  and  they  lived  in  a 
pleasant  little  home,  before  the  shadow  of  bereave- 
ment and  pecuniary  anxiety  had  come  to  cloud  their 
happiness.  Still  she  was  not  utterly  cast  down.  Paul 
had  proved  himself  a  manly  and  a  helpful  boy,  self- 
reliant  and  courageous,  and  though  they  might  be 
pinched,  she  knew  that  as  long  as  he  was  able  to 
work  they  would  not  actually  suffer. 


^  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

A.  NEW  PATRON. 

Mrs.  Hoffman  went  out  in  the  afternoon,  and 
Tisited  several  large  establishments  in  the  hope  of 
obtaining  work.  But  everywhere  she  was  met  with 
the  stereotyped  reply,  "Business  is  so  dull  that  we 
are  obliged  to  turn  off  some  who  are  accustomed  to 
work  for  us.    We  have  no  room  for  new  hands.'^ 

Finally  she  decided  that  it  would  be  of  no  use  to 
make  any  further  applications,  and  went  home  feel- 
ing conside"  ibly  disheartened. 

"  I  must  find  something  to  do,"  she  said  to  her- 
self. "  I  cannot  throw  upon  Paul  the  entire  burden 
of  supporting  the  family." 

But  it  was  not  easy  to  decide  what  to  do.  There 
are  so  few  paths  open  to  a  woman  like  Mrs.  Hoffman. 
She  was  not  strong  enough  to  take  in  washing,  nor, 
if  she  had  been,  would  Paul,  who  was  proud  for  his 
mother,  though  not  for  himself,  have  consented  to 
her  doing  it.  She  determined  to  think  it  over  during 
the  evening,  and  make  another  attempt  to  get  work 
of  some  kind  the  next  day. 

"  I  won't  tell  Paul  till  to-morrow  night,"  she  de- 
cided. "  Perhaps  by  that  time  I  shall  have  found 
something  to  do." 

All  that  day,  the  first  full  day  in  his  new  business, 
Paul  sold  eighteen  ties.  He  was  not  as  successful 
proportionately  as  the  previous  afternoon.    Still  hi» 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      61 

share  of  the  profits  amounted  to  a  dollar  and  twelve 
centS;,  and  he  felt  quite  satisfied.  His  sales  had  been 
fifty  per  cent,  more  than  George  Barry's  average 
sales,  and  that  was  doing  remarkably  well,  consider- 
ing that  the  business  was  a  new  one  to  him. 

The  next  morning,  about  ten  o'clock,  as  he  stood 
behind  his  stand,  he  saw  a  stout  gentleman  ap- 
proaching from  the  direction  of  the  Astor  House. < 
He  remembered  him  as  the  one  with  whom  he  had 
accidentally  come  in  collision  when  he  was  in  pursuit 
of  Mike  Donovan.  Having  been  invited  to  speak  to 
him,  he  determined  to  do  so. 

"  Good-morning,  sir,"  said  Paul,  politely. 

^^  Eh  !  Did  you  speak  to  me  ?  "  inquired  the  stout 
gentleman. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  bade  3'ou  good-morning." 

"  Good-morning.  I  don't  remember  you,  though. 
What's  your  name  ?  " 

"  Paul  Hoffman.  Don't  you  remember  my  running 
against  you  a  day  or  two  since  ?  " 

"  Oho,  you're  the  boy,  then.  You  nearly  knocked 
the  breath  out  of  me." 

'^  I  am  very  sorry,  sir." 

"  Of  course  you  didn't  mean  to.  Is  this  your 
stand?" 

"  No,  sir ;  I  am  tending  for  the  owner,  who  is 
sick." 

'^  Does  he  pay  you  well  ?  " 

"  He  gives  me  hall  the  profits," 

*^  And  does  that  pay  you  for  your  labor? '* 

"  I  can  earn  about  a  dollar  a  day." 

"  That  is  good.  It  is  more  than  I  earned  when  I 
was  of  your  age." 

"Indeed,  sir!" 

*^Yes,  I  was  a  poor  boy,  but  I  kept  steadily  at 
work,  and  now  I  am  rich.'' 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  I  hope  I  shall  be  rich  some  time,"  said  PatiL 

'*  You  have  the  same  chance  that  I  had." 

"I  don't  care  so  much  for  myself  as  for  my 
mother  and  my  little  brother.  I  should  like  to  be- 
come rich  for  their  sake." 

"  So  you  have  a  mother  and  a  brother.  Where  do 
they  live?" 

Paul  told  him. 

"  And  3^ou  help  support  them  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

'^  That^s  a  good  boy,"  said  the  gentleman,  approv- 
ingly.    "Is  your  mother  able  to  earn  anji^hing?" 

"  Not  much,  sir.  She  makes  shirts  for  a  Broad- 
way store,  but  they  only  pay  her  twenty-five  cents  a 
piece." 

"  That  is  very  small.  She  can  sew  well,  I  sup- 
pose ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir,  no  fault  is  ever  found  with  her 
work." 

"  Do  vou  think  she  would  make  me  a  dozen 
shirts  ?"^ 

"  She  would  be  glad  to  do  so,"  said  Paul,  quickly, 
for  he  knew  that  his  new  acquaintance  would  pay 
far  more  liberally  than  the  Broadway  firm. 

"  I  will  give  the  price  I  usually  pay, — ten  shil- 
lings apiece." 

Ten  shillings  in  New  York  currency  amount  to  a 
dollar  and  a  quarter,  which  would  be  five  times  the 
price  Mrs.  Hoffman  had  been  accustomed  to  receive. 
A  dozen  shirts  would  come  to  fifteen  dollars,  which 
to  a  family  in  their  circumstances  would  be  a  great 
help. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Paul.  ''  My  mother  will 
accept  the  work  thankfully,  and  will  try  to  suit  yoiL 
When  shall  I  come  for  the  cloth  ?  " 

"  You  may  come  to  my  house  tills  evening,  and 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      6a 

I  will  give  you  a  pattern,  and  an  order  for  the 
materials  on  a  dry  goods  dealer  in  Broadway/^ 

"  \VTiere  do  3'ou  live,  sir  ?  " 

"  No.  —  Madison  Avenue,  between  Thirty-fourth 
and  Thirty-fifth  streets.  My  name  is  Preston.  Can 
you  remember  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  I  will  put  i^  down,  to  make  sure." 

'^  Well,  good-morning." 

"  Good-morning,  sir.  I  suppose  you  don't  want 
a  tie  this  morning?  " 

"  I  don't  think  you  keep  the  kind  I  am  accustomed 
to  wear,"  said  Mr.  Preston,  smiling.  "  I  stick  to  the 
old  fashions,  and  wear  a  stock." 

The  old  gentleman  had  scarcely  gone  when  two 
boys  of  twelve  or  thirteen  paused  before  the  stand. 

"  That's  a  bully  tie,  Jeff,"  said  George,  the  elder 
of  the  two.    "  I  have  a  good  mind  to  buy  it." 

"  It  won't  cost  much,"  said  Jeff.  "  Only  twenty- 
five  cents.    But  I  like  that  one  better." 

"  If  you'll  buy  one,  I  will." 

"  All  right,"  said  Jeff,  whose  full  name  was  Jeffer- 
son. "  We  can  wear  them  to  dancing-school  this 
afternoon." 

So  the  two  boys  bought  a  neck-tie,  and  this,  in 
addition  to  previous  sales,  made  six  sold  during  the 
morning. 

"  I  hope  T  shall  do  as  well  as  I  did  yesterday," 
thought  Paul.  "  If  I  can  make  nine  shillings  every 
day,  I  won't  complain.  It  is  better  than  selling  prize 
Dackages." 

Paul  seemed  likely  to  obtain  his  wish,  since  at 
twelve  o'clock,  when  he  returned  home  to  dinner, 
he  had  sold  ten  ties,  making  rather  more  than  half 
of  the  previous  day's  sales. 

Mrs.  Hoffman  had  been  out  once  more,  but  met 
with  no  better  success  than  before.    There  seemed  tn 


(M,  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR. 

be  no  room  anywhere  for  a  new  hand.  At  several 
places  she  had  seen  others,  out  of  employment  like 
herself,  who  were  also  in  quest  of  work.  The  only 
encouragement  she  received  was,  that  probably  in 
a  month  or  six  weeks  business  might  so  far  improve 
that  she  could  obtain  work.  But  to  Mrs.  Hoffman 
it  was  a  serious  matter  to  remain  idle  even  four 
weeks.  She  reflected  that  Paul's  present  employ- , 
ment  was  only  temporary,  and  that  he  would  be 
forced  to  give  up  his  post  as  soon  as  George  Bany 
should  recover  his  health,  which  probably  would  be 
within  a  week  or  two.  She  tried  in  vain  to  think 
of  some  temporary  employment,  and  determined,  in 
case  she  should  be  unsuccessful  in  the  afternoon, 
which  she  hardly  anticipated,  to  consult  Paul  what 
she  had  better  do. 

Paul  noticed  when  he  came  in  that  his  mother 
looked  more  sober  and  thoughtful  than  usual. 

**  Have  you  a  headache,  mother  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  No,  Paul,"  she  said,  smiling  faintly. 

"  Something  troubles  you,  I  am  sure,"  continued 
Paul. 

"  You  are  right,  Paul,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman, 
"  though  I  didn't  mean  to  tell  you  till  evening." 

*' What  is  it?"  asked  Paul,  anxiously. 

"When  I  carried  back  the  last  shirts  I  made  for 
Duncan  &  Co.  they  told  me  I  couldn't  have  any 
more  for  a  month  or  six  weeks." 

"  That  will  give  you  some  time  to  rest,  mother,'^ 
said  Paul,  who  wanted  to  keep  back  his  good  new? 
for  a  while. 

"  But  I  can't  afford  to  rest,  Paul." 

"  You  forget  that  I  am  earning  money,  mother.  I 
am  sure  I  can  earn  a  dollar  a  day." 

"  I  know  you  are  a  good,  industrious  boy,  Paul, 
and  I  don't  know  how  we  should  get  along  without 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      65 

you.  Bui;  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  do  my  part, 
though  it  is  small." 

"  Don't  be  anxious,  mother ;  I  am  sure  we  can  get 
along." 

''  But  I  am  not  willing  that  the  whole  burden  of 
supporting  the  family  should  come  upon  you.  Be- 
sides, you  are  not  sure  how  long  you  can  retain  your 
present  employment." 

"  I  know  that,  mother,  but  something  else  will  be 
sure  to  turn  up.  If  I  can't  do  anything  else,  I  can 
turn  boot-black,  though  I  would  prefer  something 
else.  There  is  no  chance  of  my  being  out  of  work 
long. 

"  There  are  fewer  things  for  me  to  do,"  said  his 
mother,  "  but  perhaps  you  can  think  of  something. 
I  shall  go  out  this  afternoon,  and  try  my  luck  once 
more.  If  I  do  not  succeed,  I  will  consult  with  you 
this  evening." 

"  Suppose  I  tell  you  that  I  have  work  for  you, 
enough  to  last  two  or  three  weeks,  that  will  pay  five 
times  as  well  as  the  work  you  have  been  doing; 
what  would  you  say   to  that  ? "   asked   Paul,   smil- 

"  Are  you  in  earnest,  Paul  ? "  asked  his  mother, 
very  much  surprised. 

"  Quite  in  earnest,  mother.  There's  a  gentleman 
up  town  that  wants  a  dozen  shirts  made,  and  is 
willing  to  pay  ten  shillings  apiece." 

"  Ten  shillings !  WTiy,  that's  a  dollar  and  a 
quarter." 

"  Of  course  it  is.  I  told  him  I  thought  you  would 
accommodate  him." 

"  You  are  sure  T  can  get  the  work  to  do : '' 

"  Certainly.  I  am  to  go  up  to  his  house  this 
evening,  and  get  the  pattern,  and  an  order  for  the 
materialso" 


66  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

*^It  seems  too  good  to  be  true,"  said  his  mother. 
**'  Why,  I  can  earn  at  least  a  dollar  a  day/^ 

"  Then  you  will  be  doing  as  well  as  J  am.'* 

"  Tell  me  how  you  heard  of  it,  Paul,"  said  Mrs. 
Hoffman. 

Paul  told  the  story  of  the  manner  in  which  he 
formed  Mr.  Preston's  acquaintance. 

"  It's  lucky  you  ran  into  him,  Paul,"  said  Jimmy. 

"  He  didn't  think  so  at  the  time,"  said  Paul,  laugh- 
ing. ^^He  said  I  nearly  knocked  the  breath  out  of 
him." 

"You  won't  go  out  this  afternoon,  mother,  will 
you?"  asked  Jimmy. 

"  No,  it  will  not  be  necessary  now ;  I  didn't  think 
this  morning  that  such  a  piece  of  good  luck  wa^  m 
store  for  me." 


CHAPTER  X. 

PAUL  MEETS  WITH  A  LOSS. 

After  supper  Paul  brushed  his  clothes  carefully, 
and  prepared  to  go  to  the  address  given  him  by  Mr. 
Preston.  He  decided  to  walk  one  way,  not  wishing 
to  incur  the  expense  of  two  railroad  fares.  The 
distance  was  considerable,  and  it  was  nearly  eight 
o'clock  when  he  arrived   at  his   destination. 

Paul  found  himself  standing  before  a  handsome 
house  of  brown  stone.  He  ascended  the  steps,  and 
inquired,  on  the  door  being  opened,  if  Mr.  PrestoD 
was  at  home. 

^  I'll  see,"  said  the  servant. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      67 

She  returned  in  a  short  time,  and  said,  "  He  says 
you  may  come  upstairs." 

Paul  followed  the  servant,  who  pointed  out  a 
door  at  the  head  of  the  first  staircase. 

Paul  knocked,  and  hearing  "  come  in,"  from  with- 
in, opened  the  door  and  entered. 

He  found  himself  in  a  spacious  chamber,  hand- 
somely furnished.  Mr.  Preston,  in  dressing-gown 
and  slippers,  sat  before  a  cheerful  open  fire. 

^'  Come  and  sit  down  by  the  fire,"  he  said,  sociably. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  I  am  warm  with  walking ; "  and 
Paul  took  a  seat  near  the  door. 

"  I  am  one  of  the  cold  kind,"  said  Mr.  Preston, 
*^and  have  a  fire  earlier  than  most  people.  You 
came  about  the  shirts,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Will  your  mother  undertake  them  ?  " 

"  With  pleasure,  sir.  She  can  no  longer  get  work 
from  the  shop." 

*'  Business  dull,  I  suppose." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Then  I  am  glad  I  thought  of  giving  her 
-the  commission.  How's  business  with  you  to-day, 
eh?" 

"  Pretty  good,  sir." 

"  How  many  neck-ties  did  you  sell  ?  " 

"  Nineteen,  sir." 

"  And  how  much  did  you  get  for  that  ?  " 

"  Nine  shillings  and  a  half, — a  dollar  and  eighteen 
cents." 

"  That's  pretty  good  for  a  boy  like  you.  When 
I  was  of  your  age  I  was  working  on  a  farm  for  myj 
board  and  clothes." 

"Were  you,  sir?"  asked  Paul,  interested. 

"'  Yes,  I  was  bound  out  till  I  was  twenty-one. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  I  was  to  receive  a  hundred 


68  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

dollars  and  a  freedom  suit  to  begin  the  world  with. 
That  wasn't  a  ver}^  large  capital,  eh  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  But  the  death  of  my  employer  put  an  end  to  my 
apprenticeship  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  I  hadn't  a 
penny  of  money,  and  was  thrown  upon  my  own  re- 
sources. However,  I  had  a  pair  of  good  strong  arms, 
and  a  good  stock  of  courage.  I  knew  considerable 
about  farming,  but  I  didn't  like  it.  I  thought  1 
should  like  trade  better.  So  I  went  to  the  village 
merchant,  who  kept  a  small  dry  goods  store,  and 
arranged  with  him  to  supply  me  with  a  small  stock 
of  goods,  which  I  undertook  to  sell  on  commission, 
for  him.  His  business  w^as  limited,  and  having  con- 
fidence in  my  honesty,  he  was  quite  willing  to  entrust 
me  with  what  I  wanted.  So  I  set  out  with  my  pack 
on  my  back,  and  made  a  tour  of  the  neighboring  viU 
lages." 

Paul  listened  with  eager  interest.  He  had  his  own 
way  to  make,  and  it  was  very  encouraging  to  find 
that  Mr.  Preston,  who  was  evidently  rich  and  pros- 
perous, was  no  better  off  at  eighteen  than  he  was 
now. 

"You  will  want  to  know  how  I  succeeded.  Well^ 
at  first  only  moderately ;  but  I  think  I  had  some  tact 
in  adapting  myself  to  the  different  classes  of  persons 
with  w^hom  I  came  in  contact;  at  any  rate  I  was 
always  polite,  and  that  helped  me.  So  my  sales 
increased,  and  I  did  a  good  thing  for  my  employer 
as  well  as  myself.  He  would  have  been  glad  to 
employ  me  for  a  series  of  years,  but  I  happened  to 
meet  a  traveling  salesman  of  a  New  York  wholesale 
house,  wdio  offered  to  obtain  me  a  position  similar  to 
his  own.  As  this  would  give  me  a  larger  field  and 
larger  profits,  I  accepted  gladly,  and  so  changed  the 
nature  of  my  employment.     I  became  very  success* 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      69 

ful.  My  salary  was  raised  from  time  to  time,  till  I 
reached  five  thousand  dollars.  I  lived  frugally  and 
saved  money,  and  at  length  bought  an  interest  in  the 
house  by  which  I  had  been  so  long  employed.  I  am 
now  senior  partner,  and,  as  you  may  suppose,  very 
comfortably  provided  for." 

"Do  you  know  why  I  have  told  you  this?"  asked 
Mr.  Preston,  noticing  the  eagerness  with  which  Paul 
had  listened. 

"  I  don't  know,  sir ;  but  I  have  been  very  much 
interested." 

"  It  was  because  I  like  to  give  encouragement  to 
boys  and  young  men  who  are  now  situated  as  I  used 
to  be.     I  think  you  are  a  smart  boy." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  And  though  you  are  poor,  you  can  lift  yourself 
to  prosperity,  if  you  are  willing  to  work  hard  enough 
and  long  enough." 

"  I  am  not  afraid  of  work,"  said  Paul,  promptly. 

"  No,  I  do  not  believe  you  are.  I  can  tell  by  a 
boy's  face,  and  you  have  the  appearance  of  one  who 
is  willing  to  work  hard.  How  long  have  you  been  a 
street  peddler  ?  " 

"  About  a  year,  sir.  Before  that  time  my  father 
was  living,  and  I  was  kept  at  school." 

"  You  will  find  the  street  a  school,  though  of  a 
different  kind,  in  which  you  can  learn  valuable  les- 
sons. If  you  can  get  time  in  the  evening,  however, 
it  will  be  best  to  keep  up  your  school  studies." 

"  I  am  doing  that  now,  sir." 

"  That  is  well.  And  now  about  the  shirts.  Did 
your  mother  say  how  long  it  would  take  her  to  make 
them  ?  " 

"About  three  weeks,  I  think,  sir.  Will  that  be 
soon  enough  ?  " 

"  That  will  do.    Perhaps  it  will  be  weU,  however. 


70  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

to  bring  half  the  number  whenever  they  are  Ha* 
ished/' 

"  All  right,  sir." 

"  I  suppose  your  mother  can  cut  them  out  if  I  send 
a  shirt  as  a  pattern  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

Mr.  Preston  rose,  and,  going  to  a  bureau,  took 
therefrom  a  shirt  which  he  handed  to  Paul.  He  then 
wrote  a  few  lines  on  a  slip  of  paper,  which  he  also 
handed  our  hero. 

"  That  is  an  order  on  Barclay  &  Co.,"  he  ex- 
plained, "  for  the  requisite  materials.  If  either 
you  or  your  mother  present  it,  they  will  be  given 
you." 

"  Very  good,  sir,"  said  Paul. 

He  took  his  cap,  and  prepared  to  go. 

"  Good-evening,  Mr.  Preston,"  he  said. 

"  Good-evening.  I  shall  expect  you  with  the 
shirts  when  they  are  ready." 

Paul  went  downstairs  and  into  the  street,  thinking 
that  Mr.  Preston  was  very  social  and  agreeable.  He 
had  fancied  that  rich  men  were  g-enerally  "  stuck 
up ; "  but  about  Mr.  Preston  there  seemed  an  absence 
of  all  pretence.  Paul's  ambition  was  aroused  when 
he  thought  of  the  story  he  had  heard,  and  he  won- 
dered whether  it  would  be  possible  for  him  to  raise 
himself  to  wealth,  and  live  in  as  handsome  a  house 
as  Mr.  Preston.  He  thought  what  a  satisfaction  it 
would  be  if  the  time  should  ever  come,  when  he  could 
free  his  mother  from  the  necessity  of  work,  and  give 
little  Jimmy  a  chance  to  develop  his  talent  for  draw- 
ing. However,  such  success  must  be  a  long  way  off, 
if  it  ever  came. 

He  had  intended  to  ride  home,  but  his  mind  was 
so  preoccupied  that  he  forgot  all  about  it,  and  had 
got  some  distance  on  his  way  before  it  occurred  to 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      71 

him.  Then,  not  feeling  particularly  tired,  he  con- 
cluded to  keep  on  walking,  as  he  had  commenced. 

"  It  will  save  me  six  cents/'  he  reflected ;  "  and 
that  is  something.  If  I  am  ever  going  to  be  a  pros- 
perous merchant,  I  must  begin  to  save  now." 

So  he  kept  on  walking.  Passing  the  Cooper  Insti- 
tute he  came  into  the  Bowery,  a  broad  and  busy 
street,  the  humble  neighbor  of  Broadway,  to  which  it 
is  nearly  parallel. 

He  was  still  engaged  in  earnest  thought,  when  he 
felt  a  rude  slap  on  the  back.  Looking  round,  he  met 
the  malicious  glance  of  Mike  Donovan,  who  probably 
would  not  have  ventured  on  such  a  liberty  if  he  had 
not  been  accompanied  by  a  boy  a  head  taller  than 
himself,  and,  to  judge  from  appearances,  of  about  the 
same  character. 

"What  did  you  do  that  for,  Mike?"  demanded 
Paul. 

"  None  of  your  business ;  I  didn't  hurt  you,  did 
I  ?  "  returned  Mike,  roughly. 

"  No ;  but  I  don't  care  to  be  hit  that  way  by  you." 

"  So  you're  putting  on  airs,  are  you  ?  " 

"No;  I  don't  do  that,"  returned  Paul;  "but  I 
don't  care  about  having  anything  to  do  with  you." 

"  That's  because  you've  got  a  new  shirt,  is  it  ? " 
sneered  Mike. 

"  It  isn't  mine." 

"That's  what  I  thought.  Who  did  you  steal  it 
from  ?  " 

"Do  you  mean  to  insult  me,  Mike  Donovan?'* 
demanded  Paul,  angrily. 

"  Just  as  you  like,"  said  Mike,  independently. 

"If  you  want  to  know  why  I  don't  want  to  have 
anvthing  to  do  with  you,  I  will  tell  you." 

"  Tell  ahead." 

"  Because  you're  a  thief." 


72  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

**  If  you  say  that  again,  I'll  lick  you,"  said  Mike, 
reddening  with  anger. 

"  It's  true.  You  stole  my  basket  of  candy  the 
other  day,  and  that  isn't  the  only  time  you've  been 
caught  stealing." 

"  I'll  give  you  the  worst  licking  you  ever  had. 
Do  you  want  to  fight?"  said  Mike,  flourishing  his 
fist. 

"  No,  I  don't,"  said  Paul.  "  Some  time  when  I 
haven't  a  bundle,  I'll  accommodate  you." 

"  You're  a  coward !  "  sneered  Mike,  gaining  cour- 
age as  he  saw  Paul  was  not  disposed  for  an  en- 
counter. 

"  I  don't  think  I  am,"  said  Paul,  coolly. 

"  I'll  hold  your  shirt,"  said  Mike's  companion,  with 
a  grin,  "  if  you  want  to  fight." 

Paul,  however,  did  not  care  to  entrust  the  shirt  to 
a  stranger  of  so  unprepossessing  an  appearance. 

He,  therefore,  attempted  to  pass  on.  But  Mike, 
encouraged  by  his  reluctance,  stepped  up  and  shook 
his  fist  within  an  inch  of  Paul's  nose,  calling  him  at 
the  same  time  a  coward.  This  was  too  much  for 
Paul's  self-restraint.  He  dropped  the  shirt,  and 
pitched  into  Mike  in  so  scientific  a  manner  that  the 
latter  was  compelled  to  retreat,  and  finally  to  flee  at 
the  top  of  his  speed,  not  without  having  first  received 
several  pretty  hard  blows. 

'^  I  don't  think  he  will  meddle  with  me  again,"  said 
Paul  to  himself,  as  he  pulled  down  the  sleeves  of  his 
jacket. 

He  walked  back,  and  looked  for  the  shirt  which  he 
had  laid  down  before  commencing  the  combat.  But 
he  looked  in  vain.  Nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  the 
shirt  or  of  Mike's  companion.  Probably  both  had 
disappeared  together. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT       73 


CHAPTER  XI. 

BARCLAY  AND  CO. 

The  loss  of  the  shirt  was  very  vexations.  It  was 
not  so  much  the  value  of  it  that  Paul  cared  for, 
although  this  was  a  consideration  by  no  means  to  be 
despised  by  one  in  his  circumstances ;  but  it  had 
been  lent  as  a  pattern,  and  without  it  his  mother 
would  be  unable  to  make  Mr.  Preston's  shirts.  As 
to  recovering  it,  he  felt  that  there  was  little  chance 
of  this.  Besides,  it  would  involve  delay,  and  his 
mother  could  not  afford  to  remain  idle.  Paul  felt 
decidedly  uncomfortable.  Again  Mike  Donovan  had 
done  him  an  injury;  and  this  time  of  a  more  serious 
nature  than  before. 

What  should  he  do? 

There  seemed  but  one  answer  to  this  question.  He 
must  go  back  to  Mr.  Preston,  explain  the  manner  in 
which  he  had  lost  the  shirt,  and  ask  him  for  another, 
promising,  of  course,  to  supply  the  place  of  the  one 
lost.  He  was  not  sure  whether  Mr.  Preston  would 
accept  this  explanation.  He  might  think  it  was  only 
an  attempt  to  defraud  him.  But  at  any  rate  it 
seemed  the  only  thing  to  do,  and  it  must  be  done  at 
once.  He  entered  a  passing  car,  for  it  was  too  la-fce 
to  walk. 

"  I  wish  I  had  taken  the  car  down,"  thought  PauL 
**  Then  I  shouldn't  have  lost  the  shirt." 


74:  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

But  it  was  too  late  for  regrets  now.  He  must  do 
the  best  that  remained  to  him. 

It  was  nearly  ten  o'clock  when  Paul  once  more 
stood  before  the  door  of  Mr.  Preston's  board- 
ing-place. He  rang  the  bell,  and  asked  to  see 
him. 

'■^   "  You  have  been  here  before  this  evening  ?  "  said 
the  servant. 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  you  know  the  room.  You  can  walk  right 
up." 

Paul  went  upstairs,  and  knocked  at  Mr.  Preston's 
room.    He  was  bidden  to  come  in,  and  did  so. 

Mr.  Preston  looked  up  with  surprise. 

"  I  suppose  you  are  surprised  to  see  me,"  said  Paul, 
rather  awkwardly. 

"  Why,  yes.  I  did  not  anticipate  that  pleasure 
quite  so  soon,"  said  Mr.  Preston,  smiling. 

"  1  am  afraid  it  won't  be  a  pleasure,  for  I  bring 
bad  news." 

"  Bad  news  ? "  repeated  the  gentleman,  rather 
startled. 

"  Yes,  I  have  lost  the  shirt  .you  gave  me." 

"  Oh,  is  that  all  ?  "  said  Mr.  Preston,  looking  re- 
lieved.    "  But  how  did  j^ou  lose  it  ?  " 

"  I  was  walking  home  down  the  Bowery,  when  two 
fellows  met  me.  One  of  them,  Mike  Donovan,  forced 
me  into  a  fight.  I  gave  him  a  licking,"  added  Paul, 
with  satisfaction ;  "  but  when  it  was  all  over,  I  found 
the  other  fellow  ran  off  with  the  shirt." 

"  I  don't  believe  it  will  fit  him,"  said  Mr.  Preston, 
laughing. 

As  the  speaker  probably  weighed  nearly  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds,  it  was,  indeed,  rather  doubt- 
ful. Paul  couldn't  help  laughing  himself  at  the 
thought. 


ADVENTURES  On'  A  STKEET  MEROHANT.      75 

"You  were  certainl}^  unlucky,"  said  Mr.  Preston. 
**  Did  3^ou  know  the  boy  you  fought  with  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir;  he  once  before  stole  my  stock  of  candy, 
when  I  was  in  the  prize-package  business." 

"  That  was  the  day  we  got  acquainted,"  remarked 
Mr.  Preston. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  He  doesn't  seem  to  be  a  very  particular  friend  of 
yours." 

"  No ;  he  hates  me,  Mike  does,  though  1  don't  know 
why.  But  I  hope  you  won't  be  angry  with  me  for 
losing  the  shirt  ?  " 

"  No,  it  doesn't  seem  to  be  your  fault,  only  your 
misfortune." 

"  I  was  afraid  you  might  think  I  had  made  up  the 
story,  and  only  wanted  to  get  an  extra  shirt  from 
you." 

"  No,  my  5'oung  friend,  I  have  some  faith  in  physi- 
ognomy, and  you  have  an  honest  face.  I  don't  be- 
lieve you  would  deceive  me." 

"  No,  I  wouldn't,"  said  Paul,  promptly.  "  If  you 
will  trust  me  with  another  shirt,  mother  will  make 
you  an  extra  one,  to  make  up  for  the  one  I  have 
lost." 

"  Certainly,  you  shall  have  the  extra  shirt ;  but 
you  needn't  supply  the  place  of  the  one  lost." 

"  It  is  only  fair  that  I  should." 

"  That  may  be,  and  I  am  glad  you  made  the  offer ; 
but  the  loss  is  of  little  importance  to  me.  It  was  no 
fault  of  yours  that  you  lost  it,  and  you  shall  not 
suffer  for  it." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  sir,"  said  Paul,  gratefully. 

"  Only  just,  Paul." 

Mr.  Preston  went  to  the  bureau,  and  drew  out 
another  shirt,  which  he  handed  to  Paul. 

"Let   me   suggest,   my   young   friend,"   he   said^ 


76  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"that  you  ride  home  this  time.  It  is  late,  and  you 
might  have  another  encounter  with  your  friend.  I 
should  like  to  see  him  with  the  shirt  on ; ''  and  Mr. 
Preston  laughed  heartily  at  the  thought. 

Paul  decided  to  follow  his  patron's  advice.  He 
had  no  idea  of  running  any  more  risk  in  the  matter. 
-He  accordingly  walked  to  Fourth  Avenue,  and  got  on 
board  the  car. 

It  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock  when  he  reached 
home.  As  it  was  never  his  habit  to  stay  out  late, 
his  mother  had  become  alarmed  at  his  long  absence. 

"  What  kept  you  so  late,  Paul  ? "  she  asked. 

"I'll  tell  you  pretty  soon,  mother.  Here's  the 
shirt  that  is  to  serve  as  a  pattern.  Can  you  cut  out 
the  new  shirts  by  it  ?  " 

Mrs.  Hoffman  examined  it  attentively. 

"  Yes,"  she  said ;  "  there  will  be  no  difficulty  about 
that.    Mr.  Preston  m.ust  be  a  pretty  large  man." 

"  Yes,  he  is  big  enough  for  an  alderman ;  but  he  is 
very  kind  and  considerate,  and  I  like  him.  You 
shall  judge  for  yourself  when  I  tell  you  what  hap- 
pened this  evening." 

It  will  not  be  necessary  to  tell  Paul's  adventure 
over  again.  His  mother  listened  with  pardonable 
indignation  against  Mike  Donovan  and  his  compan- 
ion. 

"  I  hope  you  won't  have  an3i:hing  to  do  with  that 
bad  boy,  Paul,"  she  said. 

"  I  shan't  if  I  can  help  it,"  said  Paul.  "  I  didn't 
want  to  speak  to  him  to-night,  but  I  couldn't  help 
myself.  Oh,  I  forgot  to  say,  when  half  the  shirts  are 
ready,  I  am  to  take  them  to  Mr.  Preston." 

"  I  think  I  can  make  one  a  day." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  working  so  steadily,  mother. 
You  will  be  well  paid,  you  know." 

"  That  is  true ;  and  for  that  reason  I  shall  work 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      77 

more  cheerfully.  I  wish  I  could  get  paid  as  well  for 
all  my  work." 

"  Perhaps  Mr.  Preston  will  recommend  you  to  his 
friends,  and  you  can  get  more  work  in  that  way." 

"  I  wish  I'could." 

"  I  will  mention  it  to  him,  when  I  carry  back  the 
last  half  dozen." 

"  Is  he  going  to  send  the  cloth  ?  " 

"  I  nearly  forgot  that  too.  I  have  an  order  on 
Barclay  &  Co.,  for  the  necessary  amount  of  cloth.  I 
can  go  up  there  to-morrow  morning  and  get  it." 

"  That  will  take  3'ou  from  your  work,  Paul." 

"  Well,  I  can  close  up  for  a  couple  of  hours." 

"I  don^t  think  that  will  be  necessary.  I  will  go 
tip  myself  and  present  the  order,  and  get  them  to 
send  it  home  for  me." 

"Will  they  do  that?" 

"  It  is  their  custom.  Or,  if  the  bundle  isn't  too. 
large,  I  can  bring  it  home  myself  in  the  car." 

"'  That's  all  right,  then.  And  now,  mother,  as  it's 
past  eleven  o'clock,  I  think  we  may  as  well  both  go 
to.  bed." 

The  next  da}''  Paul  went  as  usual  to  his  business, 
and  Mrs.  Hoffman,  after  clearing  away  the  breakfast, 
put  on  her  bonnet  and  shawl,  and  prepared  to  go  for 
the  materials  for  the  shirts. 

The  retail  store  of  Barclay  &  Co.  is  of  great  size, 
and  ranks  among  the  most  important  in  Xew  York. 
It  was  not  so  well  filled  when  Mrs.  Hoffman  entered 
as  it  would  be  later.  She  was  directed  to  the  proper 
counter,  where  she  presented  the  order,  signed  by 
Mr.  Preston.  As  he  was  a  customer  of  long  stand- 
ing, there  was  no  difficulty  about  filling  the  order. 
A  bundle  was  made  up,  which,  as  it  contained  the 
materials  for  twelve  shirts,  necessarily  was  of  consid- 
erable size. 


78  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ,•  OR, 

"Here  is  your  bundle,  ma'am,"  said  the  clerk. 

Mrs.  Hoffman's  strength  was  slender,  and  she  did 
not  feel  able  to  carry  the  heavy  bundle  offered  her. 
Even  if  she  took  the  car,  she  would  be  obliged  to 
carry  it  a  portion  of  the  way,  and  she  felt  that  it 
would  overtask  her  strength. 

"  Don't  you  send  bundles?  "  she  asked. 

"  Sometimes,"  said  the  clerk  looking  superciliously 
at  the  modest  attire  of  the  poor  widow,  and  mentally 
deciding  that  she  was  not  entitled  to  much  considera- 
tion. Had  she  been  richly  dressed,  he  would  have 
been  very  obsequious,  and  insisted  on  sending  home 
the  smallest  parcel.  But  there  are  many  who  have 
two  rules  of  conduct,  one  for  the  rich,  and  quite  a 
different  one  for  the  poor,  and  among  these  was  the 
clerk  who  was  attending  upon  ]\Irs.  Hoffman. 

"Then,"  said  ]\rrs.  Hoffman,  "I  should  like  to 
have  you  send  this." 

"  It's  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to  send  everything," 
said  the  clerk,  impertinently. 

"  This  bundle  is  too  heavy  for  me  to  carry,"  said 
the  widow,  deprecatingly. 

''  I  suppose  we  can  send  it,"  said  the  clerk,  ill- 
naturedly,  "  if  you  insist  upon  it." 

Meanwhile,  though  he  had  not  observed  it,  his 
emplo3Tr  had  approached,  and  heard  the  last  part 
of  the  colloquy.  He  was  considered  by  some  as  a 
hard  man,  but  there  was  one  thing  he  always  required 
of  those  in  his  employ,  that  was,  to  treat  all  pur- 
chasers with  uniform  courtesy,  whatever  their  cir- 
cumstances. 

"  Are  you  objecting  to  sending  this  lady's  bun- 
dle?" said  Mr.  Barclay,  sternly. 

The  clerk  looked  up  in  confusion. 

"  I  told  her  we  would  send  it,"  he  stammered. 

"  I  heard  what  passed.    You  have  been  deficient  in 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      79 

politeness.  If  this  happens  again,  you  leave  my  em- 
ploy." 

"  I  will  take  your  address,"  said  the  clerk,  in  a 
subdued  tone. 

Mrs.  Hoffman  gave  it,  and  left  the  store,  thankful 
for  the  interference  of  the  great  merchant,  who  had 
given  his  clerk  a  lesson  which  the  latter,  as  he  valued 
his  situation,  found  it  advisable  to  bear  in  mind. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  BARREL  THIEF. 

While  Mike  Donovan  was  engaged  in  his  contest 
with  Paul,  his  companion  had  quietly  walked  off  with 
the  shirt.  It  mattered  very  little  to  him  which  party 
conquered,  as  long  as  he  carried  off  the  spoils.  His 
conduct  in  the  premises  was  quite  as  unsatisfactory 
to  Mike  as  it  was  to  Paul.  When  Mike  found  him- 
self in  danger  of  being  overpowered,  he  appealed  to 
his  companion  for  assistance,  and  was  incensed  to 
see  him  coolly  disregarding  the  appeal,  and  selfishly 
appropriating  the  booty. 

"The  mane  thafe !  "  he  exclaimed,  after  the  fight 
was  over,  and  he  was  compelled  to  retreat.  "  He  let 
me  be  bate,  and  wouldn't  lift  his  finger  to  help  me. 
rd  like  to  put  a  head  on  him,  I  would." 

Just  at  that  moment  Mike  felt  quite  as  angry  with 
his  friend,  Jerry  IMcGaverty,  as  with  his  late  oppo- 
nent. 

"  The  shirt's  mine,  fair,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  and 
I'll  make  Jerry  give  it  to  me." 

But  Jerry  had  disappeared,  and  Mike  didn't  know 


go  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

where  to  look  for  him.  In  fact,  he  had  entered  a 
dark  alley-way,  and,  taking  the  shirt  from  the  paper 
in  which  it  was  wrapped,  proceeded  to  examine  his 
prize. 

The  nnusual  size  struck  him. 

"  By  the  powers !  "  he  muttei'ed,  "  it's  big  enough 
for  me  great  grandfather  and  all  his  children.  I 
wouldn't  like  to  pay  for  the  cloth  it  tuck  to  make  it. 
But  I'll  wear  it  anyway." 

Jerry  was  not  particular  as  to  an  exact  fit.  His 
nether  garments  were  several  sizes  too  large  for  him, 
and  the  shirt  would  complete  his  costume  appro- 
priately. He  certainly  did  need  a  new  shirt,  for  the 
one  he  had  on  was  the  only  article  of  the  kind  he 
possessed,  and  was  so  far  gone  that  its  best  da3's, 
if  it  had  ever  had  any,  appeared  to  date  back  to  a 
remote  antiquity.  It  had  been  bought  cheap  in 
Baxter  Street,  its  previous  history  being  un- 
known. ^ 

Jerry  decided  to  make  the  change  at  once.  The 
alley  afforded  a  convenient  place  for  making  the  trans- 
fer. He  accordingly  pulled  off  the  ragged  shirt  he 
wore,  and  put  on  the  article  he  had  purloined  from 
Paul.  The  sleeves  w^re  too  long,  but  he  turned  up 
the  cuffs,  and  the  ample  body  he  tucked  inside  his 
pants. 

"  It  fits  me  too  much,"  soliloquized  Jerry,  as  he 
surveyed  himself  after  the  exchange.  "  I  could  let 
out  the  half  of  it,  and  have  enough  left  for  meself. 
Anyhow  it's  clane,  and  it  came  chape  enough." 

He  came  out  of  the  alley,  leaving  his  old  shirt 
behind  him.  Even  if  it  had  been  worth  carrying 
away,  Jerry  saw  no  use  in  possessing  more  than  one 
shirt.  It  was'his  habit  to  wear  one  till  it  was  ready  to 
drop  off  from  him,  and  then  get  another  if  he  could. 
There  is  a  practical  convenience  in  this  arrangement, 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.   81 

though  there  are  also  objections  which  will  readily 
occur  to  the  reader. 

On  the  whole,  though  the  shirt  fitted  him  too  much, 
as  he  expressed  it,  he  regarded  himself  compla- 
cently. 

The  superabundant  material  gave  the  impression 
of  liberal  expenditure  and  easy  circumstances,  since 
a  large  shirt  naturally  costs  more  than  a  small  one. 
So  Jerry,  as  he  walked  along  the  Bowery,  assumed 
a  jaunty  air  precisely  such  as  some  of  my  readers 
may  when  they  have  a  new  suit  to  display.  His 
new  shirt  was  quite  conspicuous,  since  he  was  in- 
cumbered neither  with  vest  nor  coat. 

Mike,  feeling  sore  over  his  defeat,  met  Jerry  the 
next  morning  on  Chatham  Street.  His  quick  eye 
detected  the  improved  state  of  his  friend's  apparel, 
and  his  indignation  arose,  as  he  reflected  that  Jerry 
had  pocketed  the  profits  while  the  hard  knocks  had 
been  his. 

^*  Jerry  !  "  he  called  out. 

Jerry  did  not  see  fit  to  heed  the  call.  He  was 
sensible  that  Mike  had  something  to  complain  of,  and. 
he  was  in  no  hurry  to  meet  his  reproaches. 

*^  Jerry  McGaverty  !  "  called  Mike,  comfng  near. 

'^  Oh,  it's  you,  j\Iike,  is  it  ?  "  answered  Jerry,  unable 
longer  to  keep  up  the  pretence  of  not  hearing. 

''Yes,  it's  me,"  said  Mike.  "What  made  yoTi 
leave  me  for  last  night  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  want  to  interfere  bet  wane  two  gintle- 
men,"  said  Jerry,  with  a  grin.  "  Did  you  mash  him, 
Mike?'' 

''  No,"  said  Mike,  sullenly,  "  he  mashed  me. 
Why  didn't  you  help  me  ?  " 

"  I  thought  you  was  bating  him,  so,  as  I  had  some 
business  to  attind  to,  I  went  away." 

"  You  went  away  wid  the  shirt." 


82  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR. 

''Yes,  I  took  it  by  mistake.  Ain't  it  an  iligant 
fit?" 

"  It's  big  enough  for  two  of  3'ou." 

"  Maybe  I'll  grow  to  it  in  time,"  said  Jerry. 

'^Anci  how  much  are  you  goin'  to  give  me  for  my 
share  ?  "  demandecl  ]\Iike. 

"  Say  that  ag'in,"  said  Jerry. 

Mike  repeated  it. 

"  I  thought  maybe  I  didn't  hear  straight.  It  ain't 
yours  at  all.     Didn't  I  take  it?" 

"  You  wouldn't  have  got  it  if  I  hadn't  fit  with 
Paul." 

"That  ain't  nothin'  to  me,"  said  Jerry.  "The 
shirt's  mine,  and  I'll  kape  it." 

Mike  felt  strongly  tempted  to  "  put  a  head  on  " 
Jerry,  whatever  that  may  mean;  but  as  Jerry  was  a 
head  taller  already,  the  attempt  did  not  seem  quite 
prudent.  He  indulged  in  some  forcible  remarks, 
which,  however,  did  not  disturb  Jerry's  equa- 
nimity. 

"I'll  give  you  my  old  shirt,  Mike,"  he  said,  "if 
you  can  find  it.  I  left  it  in  an  alley  near  the  old 
Bowery." 

"  I  don't  want  the  dirty  rag,"  said  Mike,  con- 
temptou=^ly. 

Finally  a  compromise  was  effected,  Jerry  offering 
to  help  Mike  on  the  next  occasion,  and  leave  the 
spoils  in  his  hands. 

I  have  to  chronicle  another  adventure  of  Jerry's, 
in  which  he  was  less  fortunate  than  he  had  been  in 
the  present  case.  He  was  a  genuine  vagabond,  and 
lived  by  his  wits,  being  too  lazy  to  devote  himself  to 
any  regular  street  employment,  as  boot-blacking,  or 
selling  newspapers.  Occasionally  he  did  a  little 
work  at  each  of  these,  but  regular,  persistent  industry 
was  out  of  his  line.    He  was  a  drone  by  inclination. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      83 

and  a  decided  enemy  to  work.  On  the  subject  of 
honesty,  his  principles  were  far  from  strict.  If  he 
could  appropriate  what  did  not  belong  to  him  he 
was  ready  to  do  so  without  scruple.  This  propensity 
had  several  times  brought  him  into  trouble,  and  he 
had  more  than  once  been  sent  to  reside  temporarily 
on  Blackwell's  Island,  from  which  he  had  returned 
by  no  means  improved. 

Mike  was  not  quite  so  much  of  a  vagabond  as  his 
companion.  He  could  work  at  times,  though  he  did 
not  like  it,  and  once  pursued  the  vocation  of  a  boot- 
black for  several  months  with  fair  success.  But 
Jerry's  companionship  was  doing  him  no  good,  and 
it  seemed  likely  that  eventually  he  would  become 
quite  as  shiftless  as  Jerry  himself. 

Jerry,  having  no  breakfast,  strolled  down  to  one 
of  the  city  markets.  He  frequently  found  an  oppor- 
tunity of  stealing  here,  and  was  now  in  search  of  such 
a  chance.  He  was  a  dexterous  and  experienced  barrel 
thief,  a  term  which  it  may  be  necessary  to  explain. 
Barrels,  then,  have  a  commercial  value,  and  coopers 
will  generally  pay  twenty-five  cents  for  one  in  good 
condition.  This  is  enough,  in  the  eyes  of  many  a 
young  vagabond,  to  pay  for  the  risk  incurred  in 
stealing  one. 

Jerry  prowled  round  the  market  for  some  time, 
seeking  a  good  opportunity  to  walk  off  with  an  apple 
or  banana,  or  something  eatable.  But  the  guardians 
of  the  stands  seemed  unusually  vigilant,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  give  up  the  attempt,  as  involving  too 
great  risk.  Jerry  was  hungry,  and  hunger  is  an 
uncomfortable  feeling.  He  began  to  wish  he  had 
remained  satisfied  with  his  old  shirt,  dirty  as  it  was, 
and  carried  the  new  one  to  some  of  the  Baxter  Street 
dealers,  from  whom  he  could  perrrs^ps  have  got  fifty 
eents  for  it.     Now,  fifty  ce/fts  woulct  have  paid  for 


84  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

a  breakfast,  and  a  couple  of  cigars,  and  those  just  now 

would  have  made  Jerry  happy. 

"  What  a  fool  I  was  not  to  think  of  it ! "  he  said. 
*^  The  old  shirt  would  do  me,  and  I  could  buy  a  bully 
breakfast  wid  the  money  I'd  get  for  this." 

Just  at  this  moment  he  espied  an  empty  barrel, — a 
barrel  apparently  quite  new  and  in  an  unguarded 
position.  He  resolved  to  take  it,  but  the  affair  must 
be  managed  slily. 

He  lounged  up  to  the  barrel,  and  leaned  upon  it 
indolently.  Then,  in  apparent  unconsciousness,  he 
began  to  turn  it,  gradually  changing  its  position.  If 
observed,  he  could  easily  deny  all  felonious  inten- 
tions. This  he  kept  up  till  he  got  it  round  the  cor- 
ner, when  glancing  sharply  around  to  see  if  he  was 
observed,  he  quickly  lifted  it  on  his  shoulder  and 
marched  off. 

All  this  happened  without  his  being  observed  by 
the  owner  of  the  barrel.  But  the  policeman,  who 
chanced  to  be  going  his  rounds,  had  been  a  witness 
of  Jerry's  little  game.  He  remained  quiet  till  Jerry's 
intentions  became  evident,  then  walked  quietly  up 
and  put  his  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Put  do^Ti  that  barrel,"  he  said,  authoritatively. 

Jerry  had  been  indulging  in  visions  of  the  break- 
fast he  would  get  with  the  twenty-five  cents  he 
expected  to  obtain  for  the  barrel,  and  the  interruption 
was  not  an  agreeable  one.  But  he  determined  to 
brazen  it  out,  if  possible. 

"  What  for  will  I  put  it  down  ?  "  he  said. 

"  Because  you've  stolen  it,  that's  why." 

"  No,"  said  Jerry,  "  I'm  carry  in'  it  round  to  m]^ 
boss.    It's  his." 

"  Where  do  you  work  ?  " 

'^In  Fourth  Street,"  said  Jerry,  at  random. 

"  What  number  ?  '^ 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      85 

""  No.  136.- 

"  Then  your  boss  will  have  to  get  some  one  in  your 
place,  for  you  will  have  to  come  with  me." 

"What  for?" 

"  I  saw  you  steal  the  barrel.  You're  a  barrel  thief, 
and  this  isn't  tlie  first  time  you've  been  caught  at  it. 
Carry  back  the  barrel  to  the  place  you  took  it  from, 
and  then  come  with  me." 

Jerry  tried  to  beg  off,  but  without  avail. 

At  that  mornent  Mike  Donovan  lounged  up. 
When  he  saw  his  friend  in  custody,  he  felt  a  degree 
of  satisfaction,  remembering  the  trick  Jerry  had 
played  on  him. 

"  Where  are  you  goin',  Jerry  ?  "  he  asked,  with  a 
grin,  as  he  passed  him.  "  Did  ye  buy  that  barrel  to 
kape  your  shirt  in  ?  " 

Jerry  scowled,  but  thought  it  best  not  to  answer, 
lest  his  unlawful  possession  of  the  shirt  might  also 
be  discovered,  and  lead  to  a  longer  sentence. 

"  He's  goin'  down  to  the  Island  to  show  his  new 
shirt,"  thought  Mike,  with  a  grin.  "  Maybe  he'll 
5et  the  fashion  there." 

Mike  was  right.  Jerry  was  sent  to  the  Island  for 
two  months,  there  introducing  Mr.  Preston's  shirt  to 
cono^pany  little  dreamed  of  by  its  original  proprietor. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

OUT   OF  BUSINESS. 

The  next  day  Mrs.  Hoffman  commenced  work 
upon  Mr.  Preston's  shirts.  She  worked  with  mucH 
more  cheerfulness  now  that  she  was  sure  of  obtaining 
a  liberal  price  for  her  labor.    As  the  shirts  were  of 


66  PAUL  THui  jr'EDDLER  ;  OR, 

extra  size,  she  found  herself  unable  to  finish  one  in 
a  day,  as  she  had  formerly  done,  but  had  no  difficulty 
in  making  four  in  a  week.  This,  however,  gave  her 
five  dollars  weekly,  instead  of  a  dollar  and  a  half  ae 
formerly.  Now  five  dollars  may  not  seem  a  very 
large  sum  to  some  of  my  young  readers,  but  to  Mrs. 
Hoffman  it  seemed  excellent  compensation  for  a 
week's  work. 

"If  i  could  only  earn  as  much  every  week,"  she 
said  to  Paul,  on  Saturday  evening,  "  I  should  feel 
quite  rich." 

"  Your  work  will  last  three  weeks,  mother,  and 
perhaps  at  the  end  of  that  time  some  of  Mr.  Pres- 
ton's friends  mav  wish  to  employ  3^ou." 

"  I  hope  they ''will." 

"  How  much  do  you  think  I  have  made  ? "  con- 
tinued Paul. 

"  Six  dollars." 

"  Seven  dollars  and  a  half." 

"  So  between  us  both  we  have  earned  over  twelve 
dollars." 

"  I  wish  I  could  earn  something,"  said  little 
Jimmy,  looking  up  from  his  drawing. 

"  There's  time  enough  for  that,  Jimmy.  You  are 
going  to  be  a  great  artist  one  of  these  days." 

"  Do  you  really  think  I  will  ? "  asked  the  little 
boy,  wistfully. 

"I  think  there  is  a  good  chance  of  it.  Let  m-» 
see  what  you  are  drawing." 

The  picture  upon  which  Jimmy  was  at  work  rep- 
resented a  farmer  standing  upright  in  a  cart,  drawn 
by  a  sturdy,  large-framed  horse.  The  copy  bore  a 
close  resemblance  to  the  original,  even  in  the  most 
difficult  portions, — the  face  and  expression,  both  in 
the  man  and  the  horse,  being  carefully  reproducedc 

"  This  is  wonderful,  Jimmy,"  exclaimed  Paul,  in 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      87 

real  surprise.  "  Didn't  you  find  it  hard  to  get  the 
man's  face  just  right?" 

"  Eather  hard,"  said  Jimmy ;  "  I  had  to  be  care- 
ful, but  I  like  best  the  parts  where  I  have  to  take 
most  pains." 

"  I  wish  I  could  afford  to  hire  a  teacher  for  you," 
said  Paul.  "  Perhaps,  if  mother  and  I  keep  on  earn- 
ing so  much  money,  we  shall  be  able  to,  some  time." 

By  the  middle  of  the  next  week  six  of  the  shirts 
were  finished,  and  Paul,  as  had  been  agreed  upon, 
carried  them  up  to  Mr.  Preston.  He  was  fortunate 
enough  to  find  him  at  home. 

"  I  hope  they  will  suit  you,"  said  Paul. 

"  I  can  see  that  the  sewing  is  excellent,"  said  Mr. 
Preston,  examining  them.  "  As  to  the  fit,  I  can  tell 
better  after  I  have  tried  one  on." 

"  Mother  made  them  just  like  the  one  3^ou  sent ; 
but  if  there  is  anything  wrong,  she  will,  of  course, 
be  ready  to  alter  them." 

"  If  they  are  just  like  the  pattern,  they  will  be 
sure  to  suit  me." 

"  And  now,  my  young  friend,"  he  added,  "  let  me 
know  liow  you  are  getting  on  in  your  own  business." 

"  I  am  making  a  dollar  a  day,  sometimes  a  little 
more." 

"  That  is  very  good." 

"Yes,  sir;  but  it  won't  last  long." 

"  I  believe  you  told  me  that  the  stand  belonged  to 
some  one  else." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  am  only  tending  it  in  his  sickness ; 
but  he  is  getting  better,  and  when  he  gets  about 
again,  I  shall  be  thrown  out  of  business." 

"  But  you  don't  look  like  one  who  would  remain 
idle  long." 

"  Xo,  sir,  I  shall  be  certain  to  find  something  to 
do,  if  it  is  only  blacking  boots." 


88  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

^'  Have  you  ever  been  in  that  business  ?  " 

"I've  tried  about  everything,"  said  Paul,  laugh- 
ing. 

"  I  suppose  you  wouldn't  enjoy  boot-blacking 
much  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  but  I  would  rather  do  that  than  be 
eaiming  nothing." 

"You  are  quite  right  there,  and  I  am  glad  j'ou 
have  no  false  shame  in  the  matter.  There  are  plenty 
who  have.  For  instance,  a  stout,  broad-shouldered 
young  fellow  applied  to  me  this  morning  for  a  clerk- 
ship. He  said  he  had  come  to  the  city  in  search  of 
employment,  and  had  nearly  expended  all  his  money 
without  finding  anything  to  do.  I  told  him  I  couldn't 
give  him  a  clerkship,  but  was  in  want  of  a  porter.  I 
offered  him  the  place  at  two  dollars  per  day.  He 
drew  back,  and  said  he  should  not  be  willing  to  accept 
a  porter's  place." 

"  He  was  very  foolish,"  said  Paul. 

"  So  I  thought.  I  told  him  that  if  such  were  his 
feelings  I  could  not  help  him.  Perhaps  he  may 
regret  his  refusal,  when  he  is  reduced  to  his  last 
penny.  By  the  way,  whenever  you  have  to  give  up 
your  stand,  you  may  come  to  me,  and  I  will  see  what 
I  can  do  for  you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  And  now  about  these  shirts ;  I  believe  I  agreed 
to  pay  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  each." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  As  they  are  of  extra  size,  I  think  I  ought  to  pay 
twelve  shillings  instead  of  ten." 

"  My  mother  thinks  herself  well  paid  at  ten  shil- 
lings." 

"  There  must  be  a  great  deal  of  work  about  one. 
Twelve  shillings  are  none  too  much ; "  and  Mr.  Pres- 
ton placed  nine  dollars  in  Paul's  hand. 


•ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      89 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Paul,  gratefully.  "  My  mother 
will  consider  herself  very  lucky." 

When  Mrs.  Hoffman  received  from  Paul  a  dollar 
and  a  half  more  than  she  anticipated,  she  felt  in 
unusually  good  spirits.  She  had  regretted  the  loss 
of  her  former  poorly  paid  work,  but  it  appeared 
that  her  seeming  misfortune  had  only  prepared  the 
way  for  greater  prosy^erity.  The  trouble  was  that  it 
would  not  last.  Still  it  would  tide  over  the  dull 
time,  and  when  this  job  was  over,  she  might  be  able 
to  resume  her  old  employment.  At  any  rate,  while 
the  future  seemed  uncertain  she  did  not  feel  like 
increasing  her  expenditures  on  account  of  her  in- 
creased earnings,  but  laid  carefully  away  three  quar- 
ters of  her  receipts  to  use  hereafter  in  case  of  need. 

Meanwhile  Paul  continued  to  take  care  of  George 
Barry's  business.  He  had  been  obliged  to  renew  the 
stock,  his  large  sales  having  materially  reduced  it. 
Twice  a  week  he  went  up  to  see  his  principal  to 
report  sales.  George  Barry  could  not  conceal  the 
surprise  he  felt  at  Paul's  success. 

"  I  never  thought  you  w^ould  do  so  well,"  he  said. 
"  You  beat  me." 

"I  suppose  it's  because  I  like  it,"  said  Paul. 
"  Then,  as  I  get  only  half  the  profits,  I  have  to  work 
the  harder  to  make  fair  wages." 

"  It  is  fortunate  for  my  son  that  he  found  you,  to 
take  his  place,"  said  Mrs.  Barry.  "  He  could  not 
afford  to  lose  all  the  income  from  his  business." 

"It  is  a  good  thing  for  both  of  us,"  said  Paul. 
"  I  was  looking  for  a  job  just  when  he  fell  sick." 

"  What  had  you  been  doing  before  ?  " 

"  I  was  in  the  prize-package  business,  but  that  got 
played  out,  and  I  was  a  gentleman  at  large,  seeking 
for  a  light,  genteel  business  that  wouldn't  require 
much  capital."  , 


90  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"I  shall  be  able  to  take  my  place  pretty  soon 
now,"  said  the  young  man.  "  I  might  go  to-morrow, 
but  mother  thinks  it  imprudent." 

"  Better  get  back  your  strength,  first,  George/' 
said  his  mother,  "  or  you  may  fall  sick  again." 

But  her  son  was  impatient  of  confinement,  ana 
anxious  to  get  to  work  again.  So,  two  days  after- 
wards, about  the  middle  of  the  forenoon,  Paul  was 
surprised  by  seeing  George  Barry  2:et  out  of  a  Broad- 
way omnibus,  just  in  front  of  the  stand. 

"  Can't  I  sell  you  a  neck-tie,  Mr.  Barry  ? "  he 
asked,  in  joke. 

"  I  almost  feel  like  a  stranger,"  said  Barry,  "  it's 
so  long  since  I  have  been  here." 

"  Do  you  feel  strong  enough  to  take  charge  now  ? '' 
asked  Paul. 

"  I  am  not  so  strong  as  I  was,  and  the  walk  from 
our  rooms  would  tire  me;  but  I  think  if  I  ride  both 
ways  for  the  present  I  shall  be  able  to  get  along." 

"  Then  you  won't  need  me  any  longer  ?  " 

"  I  would  like  to  have  you  stay  with  me  to-day.  I 
don't  know  how  I  shall  hold  out." 

"All  right!     I'll  stop." 

George  Barry  remained  in  attendance  the  rest  of 
the  day.  He  found  that  his  strength  had  so  far 
returned  that  he  should  be  able  to  manage  alone  here- 
after, and  he  told  Paul  so. 

"  I  am  glad  you  are  well  again,  George,"  said 
Paul.  "  It  must  have  been  dull  work  staying  at 
home  sick." 

"  Yes ;  it  was  dull ;  but  I  felt  more  comfortable 
.  fom  knowing  that  you  Avere  taking  my  place.  If  I 
gtt  sick  a^gain,  I  will  send  for  you." 

'  I  hope  you  won't  get  sick ;  but  if  you  do,  I  will 
do  T>  hat  I  can  to  help  you." 

So  the  two  parted  on  the  best  terms.     Each  had 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      91 

been  of  service  to  the  other,  and  neither  had  cause  to 
complain. 

"  Well/'  said  Paul  to  himself,  "  I  am  out  of  work 
again.    What  shall  I  go  at  next?" 

It  was  six  o'clock,  and  there  was  nothing  to  be 
done  till  the  morrow.  He  kept  slowly  home-wiard, 
revolving  this  subject  in  his  mind.  He  knew  that  he 
need  not  remain  idle.  He  could  black  boots,  or  sell 
newspapers,  if  nothing  better  offered,  and  he  thought 
it  quite  possible  that  he  might  adopt  the  latter  busi- 
ness for  a  few  days  at  least.  He  had  not  forgotten 
Mr.  Preston's  injunction  to  let  him  know  when  he  got 
out  of  business;  but,  as  the  second  half-dozen  shirts 
would  be  ready  in  three  or  four  days,  he  preferred  to 
wait  till  then,  and  not  make  a  special  call  on  Mr. 
Preston.  He  had  considerable  independence  of  feel- 
ing, and  didn't  like  to  put  himself  in  the  position  of 
one  asking  a  favor,  though  he  had  no  objection  to 
accept  one  voluntarily  offered. 

"  Well,  mother,"  he  said,  entering  his  humble  Lome, 
"  I  am  out  of  business." 

"  Has  George  Barry  recovered,  then  ?  " 

"Yes,  he  was  at  the  stand  to-day,  but  wanted  me 
to  stay  with  him  till  this  evening."  * 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  sorry !  "  said  Jimmy. 

"  Sorry  that  George  has  got  well  ?  For  shame, 
Jimmy." 

^No,  I  don't  mean  that,  Paul.  I  am  sorry  yoa 
are  out  of  work." 

"  I  shall  find  plenty  to  do,  Jimmy.  Perhaps  Mr. 
Stewart  will  take  me  in  as  senior  partner,  if  I  ask 
him." 

"  I  don't  think  he  will,"  said  Jimmy,  laughing. 

"  Then  perhaps  I  can  get  a  few  scholars  in  draw- 
ing.   Can't  you  recommend  me  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  not,  Paul,  unless  yon  have  improved 
agooddealo" 


PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  DIAMOND  RING. 

Paul  was  up  betimes  the  next  moTning.  He  had 
made  up  his  mind  for  a  few  days,  at  least,  to  sell 
newspapers,  and  it  was  necessary  in  this  business  to 
begin  the  day  early.  He  took  a  dollar  with  him,  and 
invested  a  part  of  it  in  a  stock  of  dailies.  He 
posted  himself  in  Printing  House  Square,  and  began 
to  look  out  for  customers.  Being  an  enterprising 
boy,  he  was  sure  to  meet  with  fair  success  in  any 
business  which  he  undertook.  So  it  happened  that  at 
ten  o'clock  he  had  sold  out  his  stock  of  papers,  and 
realized  a  profit  of  fifty  cents. 

It  was  getting  late  for  morning  papers,  and  there 
was  nothing  left  to  do  till  the  issue  of  the  first 
edition  of  the  afternoon  papers. 

"  I'll  go  down  and  see  how  George  Barry  is  getting 
along,"  thought  Paul. 

He  crossed  Broadway,  and  soon  reached  the  famil- 
iar stand. 

"  How's  business,  George  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  Fair,"  said  Barry.     "  I\e  sold  four  ties." 

"How  do  you  feel?" 

"  I'm  not  so  strong  as  I  was,  yet.  I  get  tired 
more  easily.  I  don't  think  I  shall  stay  in  this  busi- 
ness long." 

"  You  don't  ?    What  will  you  do  then  ?  " 

"  I've  got  a  chance  in  Philadelphia,  or  I  shall  have 
by  the  first  of  the  month." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHAJSTT.      93 

"  What  sort  of  a  chance  ?  '^ 

"Mother  got  a  letter  yesterday  from  a  cousin  of 
hers  who  has  a  store  on  Chestnut  Street.  He  offers 
to  take  me  as  clerk,  and  give  me  ten  dollars  a  week 
at  first,  and  more  after  a  while." 

"  That's  a  good  offer.  I  should  like  to  get  one 
like  it." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,  Paul,  you'd  better  buy  out  my 
stand.  You  know  how  to  sell  ties,  and  can  make 
money." 

"  There's  only  one  objection,  George." 

"What's  that?" 

"  I  haven't  got  any  capital." 

'^  It  don't  need  much." 

"  How  much  ?  " 

"  I'll  sell  out  all  my  stock  at  cost-price." 

"How  much  do  you  think  there  is?" 

"  About  twenty-five  dollars'  worth.  Then  there  is 
the  frame,  which  is  worth,  say  ten  dollars,  making 
thirty-five  dollars  in  all.     That  isn't  much." 

"  it's  more  than  I've  got.  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll 
do.  I'll  take  it,  and  pay  you  five  dollars  down,  and 
the  rest  in  one  month." 

,"I  would  take  your  offer,  Paul,  but  I  need  all  the 
money  now.  It  will  be  expensive  moving  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  I  shall  want  all  I  can  get." 

"  I  wish  I  could  buy  you  out,"  said  Paul,  thought- 
fully. 

"  Can't  you  borrow  the  money  ?  " 

"  How  soon  do  you  want  to  give  up  ?  " 

"It's  the  seventeenth  now.  I  should  like  to  get 
rid  of  it  by  the  twenty-second." 

"  I'll  see  what  I  can  do.  Just  keep  it  for  me  till 
to-morrow." 

"  All  right." 

Paul  walked  home  revolving  in  his  mind  this  im- 


94  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

expected  opportunity.  He  had  made,  as  George 
Barry's  agent,  a  dollar  a  day,  though  he  received  only 
half  the  profits.  If  he  were  himself  the  proprietor, 
and  did  equally  well,  he  could  make  twelve  dollars 
a  week.  The  calculation  almost  took  away  his 
breath.  Twelve  dollars  a  week  would  make  about 
fifty  dollars  a  month.  It  would  enable  him  to  con- 
tribute more  to  the  support  of  the  family,  and  save 
up  money  besides.  But  the  great  problem  was,  how 
to  raise  the  necessary  money.  If  Paul  had  been  a 
railroad  corporation,  he  might  have  issued  first-mort- 
gage bonds  at  a  high  rate  of  interest,  payable  in 
gold,  and  negotiated  them  through  some  leading 
banker.  But  he  was  not  much  versed  in  financial 
schemes,  and  therefore  was  at  a  loss.  The  only 
wealthy  friend  he  had  was  Mr.  Preston,  and  he  did 
not  like  to  apply  to  him  till  he  had  exhausted  other 
wa^^s  and  means. 

"  What  makes  you  so  sober,  Paul  ? "  asked  his 
mother,  as  he  entered  the  room.  "  You  are  home 
parly." 

"  Yes,  I  sold  all  my  papers,  and  thought  I  would 
take  an  early  dinner,  so  as  to  be  on  hand  in  time  for 
the  first  afternoon  papers." 

"Don't  you  feel  well?" 

"  Tip-top ;  but  I've  had  a  good  offer,  and  I'm  think- 
ing whether  I  can  accept  it." 

"What  sort  of  an  offer?" 

"  George  Barry  wants  to  sell  out  his  stand." 

"  How  much  does  he  ask  ?  " 

"  Thirty-five  dollars." 

"  Is  it  worth  that  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  it's  worth  all  that,  and  more  too.  If  I  had 
it  I  could  make  two  dollars  a  day.  But  I  haven't 
got  thirty-five  dollars." 

"I  can  let  you  have  nine,  Paul.     I  had  a  little 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.       95 

saved  up,  and  I  haven't  touched  the  money  Mr.  Pres- 
ton paid  me  for  the  shirts." 

^'  I've  got  five  myself,  out  that  will  only  make 
fourteen." 

"  Won't  he  wait  for  the  rest  ?  " 

"  No,  he's  going  to  Philadelphia  early  next  week, 
and  wants  the  whole  in  cash." 

"  It  would  he  a  pity  to  lose  such  a  good  chance,^^ 
said  Mrs.  Hoffman. 

"  That's  what  I  think." 

"  You  could  soon  save  up  the  money  on  two  dollars 
a  day." 

"  I  could  pay  for  it  in  a  month.  I  mean  all  above 
the  fourteen  dollars  we  have." 

"  In  a  day  or  two  I  shall  have  finished  the  second 
half-dozen  shirts,  and  then  I  suppose  Mr.  Preston 
will  pay  me  nine  dollars  more.  I  could  let  you  have 
six  dollars  of  that." 

"  That  would  make  twenty.  Perhaps  George 
Barry  will  take  that.  If  he  won't,  I  don't  know  but 
I  will  venture  to  apply  to  Mr.  Preston." 

"  He  seems  to  take  an  interest  in  you.  Perhaps  he 
would  trust  you  with  the  money." 

"  I  could  offer  him  a  mortgage  on  the  stock,"  said 
Paul. 

"  If  he  has  occasion  to  foreclose,  he  will  be  well 
provided  with  neck-ties,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman,  smil- 
ing. 

"  ISTone  of  which  he  could  wear.  I'll  tell  you  what, 
mother,  I  should  like  to  pick  up  a  pocket-book  in  the 
street,  containing,  say,  twenty  or  twenty-five  dol- 
lars." 

'^  That  would  be  very  convenient,"  said  his  mother, 
'^but  I  think  it  will  hardly  do  to  depend  on  sn^h 
good  luck  happening  to  you.  By  the  way,"  she  said, 
suddenly,  "  perhaps  I  can  help  you  after  all.    Don't 


96  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

you  remember  that  gold  ring  I  picked  up  in  Central 
Park  two  years  ago  ?  " 

"  The  one  you  advertised  ?  " 

"  Yes.  I  advertised,  or  rather  your  father  did,  but 
we  never  found  an  owner  for  it." 

"  I  remember  it  now,  mother.  Have  you  got  the 
rin^  still?" 

"I  will  get  it." 

Mrs.  Hoffman  went  to  her  trunk,  and,  opening  it, 
produced  the  ring  referred  to.  It  was  a  ^old  ring 
with  a  single  stone  of  considerable  size. 

"  I  don^t  know  how  much  it  is  worth,"  said 
Mrs.  Hoffman ;  "  but  if  the  ring  is  a  diamond, 
as  T  think  it  is,  it  must  be  worth  as  much  as  twenty 
dollars." 

"  Did  you  ever  price  it  ?  " 

"  No,  Paul,  I  have  kept  it,  thinking  that  it  would 
be  something  to  fall  back  upon  if  we  should  ever  be 
hard  pressed.  As  long  as  we  were  able  to  get  along 
without  suffering,  I  thought  I  would  keep  it.  Besides, 
I  had  another  feeling.  It  might  belong  to  some 
person  who  prized  it  very  much,  and  the  time  might 
come  when  we  could  find  the  owner.  However,  that 
IS  not  likely  after  so  long  a  time.  So,  if  you  cannot 
raise  the  money  in  any  other  way,  you  may  sell  the 
ring." 

"  1  might  pawn  it  for  thirty  days,  mother.  By 
that  time  I  should  be  able  to  redeem  it  with  the 
profits  of  my  business." 

"  I  don't  think  you  could  get  enough  from  a  pawn- 
broker." 

"  I  nan  try,  at  any  rate ;  but  first  I  will  see  George 
Barr}^,  and  find  out  whether  he  will  take  twenty 
dollars  down,  and  the  rest  at  the  end  of  a  month." 

Paul  wrapped  up  the  ring  in  a  niece  of  paper,  and 
deposited  it  in  his  vest-pocket.    He  waited  till  after 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.      9Y 

dinner,  and  then  went  at  once  to  the  neck-tie  stand, 
where  he  made  the  proposal  to  George  Barry. 

The  yonng  man  shook  his  head 

"Td  like  to  oblige  yon,  Paul/'  he  said,  ''but  I 
must  have  the  money.  I  have  an  offer  of  thirty-two 
dollars,  cash,  from  another  party,  and  I  must  take  up 
with  it  if  I  can't  do  any  better.  I'd  rather  sell  out 
to  you,  but  you  know  I  have  to  consult  my  own 
interest." 

"  Of  course,  George,  I  can't  complain  of  that." 

"  I  think  you  will  be  able  to  borrow  the  money 
somewhere." 

"  Most  of  my  friends  are  as  poor  as  myself,"  said 
Paul.  "  Still  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  raise  the 
money.     Only  wait  for  me  two  days." 

"  Yes,  Paul,  I'll  wait  that  long.  I'd  like  to  sell 
out  to  you,  if  only  because  you  have  helped  me  when 
I  was  sick.  But  for  you  all  that  would  have  been 
lost  time." 

"  Where  there's  a  will  there's  a  way,  George,'^ 
said  Paul.  "  I'm  bound  to  buy  your  stand,  and  I 
~^I  raise  the  money  somehow." 

Paul  bought  a  few  papers,  for  he  did  not  like  to 
lose  the  afternoon  trade,  and  in  an  hour  had  sold 
them  all  off,  realizing  a  profit  of  twenty  cents.  This 
made  his  profits  for  the  day  seventy  cents. 

''  That  isn't  as  well  as  I  used  to  do,"  said  Paul  to 
himself,  "  but  perhaps  I  can  make  something  more 
by  and  by.  I  will  go  now  and  see  what  I  can  get 
for  the  ring." 

As  he  had  determined,  he  proceeded  to  a  pawn- 
broker's shop  which  he  had  often  passed.  It  was  on 
Chatham  Street,  and  was  kept  by  an  old  man,  an 
Englishman  by  birth,  who,  though  he  lived  meanly 
in  a  room  behind  his  shop,  was  popularly  supposed  to 
have  accumulated  a  considerable  fortune. 


98  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  pawnbroker's  SHOP. 

Stuffed  behind  the  counter,  and  on  the  shelves  ol 
the  pawnbroker's  shop,  were  articles  in  almost  end- 
less variety.  All  was  fish  that  came  to  his  net.  He 
was  willing  to  advance  on  anything  that  had  a  mar- 
ketable value,  and  which  promised  to  yield  him,  I 
was  about  to  say,  a  fair  profit.  But  a  fair  profit  was 
far  from  satisfying  the  old  man.  He  demanded  an 
extortionate  profit  from  those  whom  ill  fortune  drove 
to  his  door  for  relief. 

Eliakim  Henderson,  for  that  was  his  name,  was  a 
small  man,  with  a  bald  head,  scattering  3'ellow 
whiskers,  and  fox-like  eyes.  Spider-like  he  waited 
for  the  flies  who  flew  of  their  own  accord  into  his 
clutches,  and  took  care  not  to  let  them  go  until  he 
had  levied  a  large  tribute.  Wlien  Paul  entered  the 
shop,  there  were  three  customers  ahead  of  him.  One 
was  a  young  woman,  whose  pale  face  and  sunken 
cheeks  showed  that  she  was  waging  an  unequal  con- 
flict with  disease.  She  was  a  seamstress  by  occupa- 
tion, and  had  to  work  fifteen  hours  a  day  to  earn  the 
little  that  was  barely  sufficient  to  keep  body  and  soul 
toofether.  Confined  in  her  close  little  room  on  the 
fourth  floor,  she  scarcelv  dared  to  snatch  time  to  look 
out  of  the  window  into  the  street  beneath,  lest  she 
should  not  be  able  to  complete  hor  allotted  task.  A 
*;wo  days'  sickness  had  compelled  her  to  have  m- 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     99 

course  to  Eliakim  Henderson.  She  had  under  hei 
arm  a  small  bundle  covered  with  an  old  copy  of  the 
**  Sun." 

"  What  have  you  got  there  ?  "  asked  the  old  man, 
roughly.  "  Show  it  quick,  for  there's  others  wait- 
ing." 

Meekly  she  unfolded  a  small  shawl,  somewhat  faded 
from  long  use. 

"  What  will  you  give  me  on  that  ? "  she  asked, 
timidly. 

"It  isn't  worth  much." 

"  It  cost  five  dollars." 

"  Then  you  got  cheated.  It  never  was  worth  half 
the  money.    What  do  you  want  on  it  ?  " 

The  seamstress  intended  to  ask  a  dollar  and  a 
half,  but  after  this  depreciation  she  did  not  venture 
to  name  so  high  a  figure. 

"  A  dollar  and  a  quarter,"  she  said. 

"  A  dollar  and  a  quarter ! "  repeated  the  old  man, 
shrilly.    "  Take  it  home  with  you.    I  don't  want  it." 

"What  will  you  give?"  asked  the  poor  girl, 
faintly. 

"  Fifty  cents.    Not  a  penny  more." 

"  Fifty  cents ! "  she  repeated,  in  dismay,  and  was 
about  to  refold  it.  But  the  thought  of  her  rent  in 
arrears  changed  her  half-formed  intention. 

"  I'll  take  it,  sir." 

The  money  and  ticket  were  handed  her,  and  she 
went  back  to  her  miserable  attic  room,  coughing  aa 
she  went. 

"  Now,  ma'am,"  said  Eliakim. 

His  new  customer  was  an  Irish  woman,  by  no 
means  consumptive  in  appearance,  red  of  face  and 
portly  of  figure. 

"  And  what'll  ye  be  givin'  me  for  this  ?  "  she  asked, 
displaying  a  pair  of  pantaloons. 


100  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

*'  Are  they  yours,  ma'am  ?  "  asked  Eliakim,  with  a 
chuckle. 

"  It's  not  Bridget  McCarty  that  wears  the 
breeches/'  said  that  lady.  "  It's  me  husband's,  and 
a  dacent,  respectable  man  he  is,  barrin'  the  drink, 
which  turns  his  head.  What'll  ye  give  for 
'em?'' 

"  Name  your  price,"  said  Eliakim,  whose  principle 
it  was  to  insist  upon  his  customers  making  the  first 
offer. 

"  Twelve  shillin's,"  said  Bridget. 

"  Twelve  shillings !  "  exclaimed  Eliakim,  holding 
up  both  hands.  "That's  all  they  cost  when  they 
were  new." 

"  They  cost  every  cint  of  five  dollars,"  'returned 
Bridget.  "  They  was  made  at  one  of  the  most  fash- 
ionable shops  in  the  city.  Oh,  they  was  an  iligant 
pair  when  they  was  new." 

"  How  many  years  ago  was  that  ?  "  asked  the  pawn- 
broker. . 

"  Only  six  months,  and  they  ain't  been  worn  more'n 
a  month." 

"  I'll  give  you  fifty  cents." 

"  Fifty  cints !  "  repeated  Mrs.  McCarty,  turning  to 
the  other  customers,  as  if  to  call  their  attention  to  an 
offer  so  out  of  proportion  to  the  valuable  article  she 
held  in  her  hand.  Only  fifty  cints  for  these  iligant 
breeches !  Oh,  it's  you  that's  a  hard  man,  that  lives 
on  the  poor  and  the  nady." 

"  You  needn't  take  it.  I  should  lose  money  on  it, 
if  you  didn't  redeem  it." 

"  He  says  he'd  lose  money  on  it,"  said  Mrs. 
McCarty.  "  And  suppose  he  did,  isn't  he  a-rollin'  in 
gold?" 

"I'm  poor,"  said  Eliakim;  "almost  as  poor  as 
you,  because  I'm  too  liberal  to  my  customers." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  bl*REET  MERCHANT.    101 

''  Hear  till  him  !  "  said  Mrs.  McCarty.  '^  He  says 
he's  liberal,  and  only  offers  fifty  cints  for  these  ili- 
gant  breeches." 

"  Will  you  take  them  or  leave  them  ?  "  demanded 
the  pawnbroker,  impatiently. 

"  You  may  give  me  the  money,"  said  Bridget : 
"and  it's  I  that  wonder  how  you  can  slape  in  your 
bed,  when  you  are  so  hard  on  poor  folks." 

Mrs.  McCarty  departed  with  her  money,  and 
Eliakim  fixed  his  sharp  eyes  on  the  next  customer. 
It  was  a  tall  man,  shabbily  dressed,  with  a  thin, 
melancholy-looking  face,  and  the  expression  of  one 
who  had  struggled  w4th  the  world,  and  failed  in  the 
struggle. 

"  How  much  for  this  ?  "  he  asked,  pointing  to  the 
violin,  and  speaking  in  a  slow,  deliberate  tone,  as  if 
he  did  not  feel  at  home  in  the  language. 

"  What  do  you  want  for  it  ?  " 

"  Ten  dollar,"  he  answered. 

"  Ten  dollars  !  You're  crazy !  "  was  the  contempt- 
uous comment  of  the  pawnbroker. 

"  He  is  a  very  good  violin,"  said  the  man.  "  If 
5^ou  would  like  to  hear  him ; "  and  he  made  a  move- 
ment as  if  to  play  upon  it. 

"  Never  mind  !  "  said  Eliakim.  "  I  haven't  any 
time  to  hear  it.  If  it  were  new  it  would  be  worth 
something;  but  it's  old,  and — " 

"  But  you  do  not  understand,"  interrupted  the  cus- 
tomer, eagerly.  "  It  is  worth  much  more  than  new. 
Do  you  see,  it  is  by  a  famous  maker?  I  would  not 
sell  him,  but  I  am  poor,  and  my  Bettina  needs  bread. 
It  hurts  me  very  much  to  let  him  go.  I  will  buy  him 
back  as  soon  as  I  can." 

"  I  will  give  you  two  dollars,  but  I  shall  lose  on  it, 
unless  you  redeem  it.". 

"Two  dollar!"  repeated  the  Italian.    "Ocielo,  it 


102  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

is  nothing.    But  Bettina  is  at  home  without  bread, 
poor  little  one !    Will  you  not  give  three  dollar  ? '' 

"  Not  a  cent  more." 

"  I  will  take  it." 

"  There's  your  money  and  ticket." 
•  And  with  these  the  poor  Itahan  departed,  giving 
one  last,  lingering  glance  at  his  precious  violin,  as 
Eliakim  took  it  roughly  and  deposited  it  upon  a  shelf 
behind  him.  But  he  thought  of  his  little  daughter  at 
home,  and  the  means  of  relief  which  he  held  in  his 
hand,  and  a  smile  of  joy  lightened  his  melancholy 
features.  The  future  might  be  dark  and  unpromis- 
ing, but  for  three  days,  at  any  rate,  she  should  not 
want  bread. 

Paul's  turn  came  next. 

"  What  have  you  got? "  asked  the  pawnbroker. 

Paul  showed  the  ring. 

Eliakim  took  it,  and  his  small,  bead-like  e3^es 
sparkled  avariciously  as  he  recognized  the  diamond, 
for  his  experience  was  such  that  he  could  form  a  tol- 
erably correct  estimate  of  its  value.  But  he  quickly 
suppressed  all  outward  manifestations  of  interest,  and 
said,  indiiferently,  "  Wliat  do  you  want  for  it  ?  " 

"  I  want  twenty  dollars,"  said  Paul,  boldly. 

"  Twentv  dollars ! "  returned  the  pawnbroker. 
"  That's  a  joke." 

"  No,  it  isn't,"  said  Paul.  ^'  I  want  twenty  dol- 
lars, and  you  can't  have  the  ring  for  less." 

"  If  you  said  twenty  shillings,  I  might  give  it  to 
you,"  said  Eliakim;  "but  you  must  think  I  am  a 
fool  to  give  twenty  dollars." 

"  That's  cheap  for  a  diamond  ring,"  said  Paul. 
'^  It's  worth  a  good  deal  more." 

The  pawnbroker  eyed  Paul  sharply.  Did  the  boy 
know  that  it  was  a  diamond  ring  ?  What  chance  was 
there  of  deceiving  him  as  to  its  value?     The  old 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     103 

man,  whose  business  made  him  a  good  judge,  decided 
that  the  ring  was  not  worth  less  than  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  and  if  he  could  get  it  into  his  pos- 
session for  a  trifle,  it  would  be  a  paying  opera- 
tion. 

"  You're  mistaken,  boy,''  he  said.  *'  It  is  not  a 
diamond." 

"What  is  it?" 

"  A  very  good  imitation.'' 

"  How  much  is  it  worth  ?  " 

"  ril  give  you  three  dollars." 

"  That  won't  do.  I  want  to  raise  twenty  dollars, 
and  if  I  can't  get  that,  I'll  keep  the  ring." 

The  pawnbroker  saw  that  he  had  made  a  mistake. 
Paul  was  not  as  much  in  need  of  money  as  the 
majority  of  his  customers.  He  would  rather  pay 
twenty  dollars  than  lose  the  bargain,  though  it  went 
against  the  grain  to  pay  so  much  money.  But  after 
pronouncing  the  stone  an  imitation,  how  could  he 
rise  much  above  the  offer  he  had  already  made  ?  He 
resolved  to  approach  it  gradually.  Surveying  it  more 
closely,  he  said : — 

"  It  is  an  excellent  imitation.  I  will  give  you  five 
dollars." 

Paul  was  not  without  natural  shrewdness,  and  this 
sudden  advance  convinced  him  that  it  was,  after  all, 
a  real  stone.  He  determined  to  get  twenty  dollars  or 
carry  the  ring  home. 

"  Five  dollars  won't  do  me  any  good,"  he  said. 
"  Give  me  back  the  ring." 

^''  Five  dollars  is  a  good  deal  of  money,"  said 
Eliakim. 

"  I'd  rather  have  the  ring." 

"  What  is  your  lowest  price  ?  '* 

"  Twenty  dollars." 

"  I'll  give  you  eight.'' 


104  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  Just  now  you  said  it  was  worth  only  three,"  said 
Paul,  sharply. 

"  It  is  very  fine  gold.  It  is  better  than  I  thought. 
Here  is  the  money.'^ 

"  You're  a  little  too  fast/'  said  Paul,  coolly.  "  I 
haven't  agreed  to  part  with  the  ring  for  eight  dollars, 
.and  I  don't  mean  to.  Twenty  dollars  is  my  lowest 
price." 

"  I'll  give  ten,"  said  the  old  man,  whose  eagerne?'' 
increased  with  Paul's  indifference. 

"  No,  you  won't.    Give  me  back  the  ring." 

"  I  might  give  eleven,  but  I  should  lose  money." 

"  I  don't  want  you  to  lose  money,  and  I've  con- 
cluded to  keep  the  ring,"  said  Paul,  rightly  inferring 
from  the  old  man's  eagerness  that  the  ring  was  much 
more  valuable  than  he  had  at  first  supposed. 

But  the  old  pawnbroker  was  fascinated  by  the 
sparkling  bauble.  He  could  not  make  up  his  mind 
to  give  it  up.  By  fair  means  or  foul  he  must  possess 
it.  He  advanced  his  bid  to  twelve,  fourteen,  fifteen 
dollars,  but  Paul  shook  his  head  resolutely.  He  had 
made  up  his  mind  to  carry  it  to  Ball  &  Black's,  or 
some  other  first-class  jewellers,  and  ascertain  whether 
it  was  a  real  diamond  or  not,  and  if  so,  to  obtain  an 
estimate  of  its  value. 

'*  I've  changed  my  mind,"  he  said.  "  I'll  keep  the 
ring.    Just  give  it  back  to  me." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    105 


CHAPTEE  XYL 

THE   jeweller's   PRICE. 

But  to  give  it  back  was  not  Eliakim's  intention. 
Should  he  buy  it  at  twenty  dollars,  he  would  make  at 
least  two  hundred,  and  such  bargains  were  not  to  be 
had  every  day.    He  decided  to  give  Paul  his  price. 

"I  will  give  you  twenty  dollars/'  he  said;  "but  it 
is  more  than  the  ring  is  worth." 

"  I  have  concluded  not  to  take  twenty  dollars/'  said 
Paul.    "  You  may  give  it  back." 

"  You  agreed  to  take  twenty  dollars/'  said  Eliakim, 
angrily. 

"  That  was  when  I  first  came  in.  You  said  you 
wouldn't  give  it." 

"  I  have  changed  my  mind." 

"  So  have  I/'  said  Paul.  "  Y^ou  had  a  chance  to 
get  it,  but  now  it's  too  late." 

Eliakim  was  deeply  disappointed.  Generally  he 
had  his  own  way  with  his  customers,  who,  being  in 
urgent  need  of  money,  were  obliged  to  accept  such 
terms  as  he  chose  to  offer.  But  now  the  tables  were 
turned,  and  Paul  proved  more  than  a  match  for  him. 
He  resolved  to  attempt  intimidation. 

"  Boy,  where  did  you  get  this  ring  ?  "  he  asked,  in 
a  significant  tone. 

"  Honestly/'  said  Paul.  "  That's  all  you  need  to 
know." 

"I  don't  believe  it/'  said  the  old  man,  harshly. 
"  I  believe  you  stole  it." 


106  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  Ok, 

"You  may  believe  what  you  like,  but  you  must 
give  it  back  to  me/'  said  Paul,  coolly. 

"  I've  a  great  mind  to  call  a  policeman/'  said 
Eliakim. 

"  If  you  did,"  said  Paul,  "  I'd  tell  him  that  you 
were  anxious  to  get  the  ring,  though  you  believed  it 
to  be  stolen.  Perhaps  he  might  have  something  to 
say  to  you." 

Eliakim  perceived  the  force  of  Paul's  argument, 
for  in  law  the  receiver  of  stolen  goods  is  as  bad  as 
the  thief,  and  there  had  been  occasions  when  the 
pawnbroker  had  narrowly  escaped  punishment  for 
thus  indirectly  conniving  at  theft. 

"If  you  say  you  got  it  honestly,  I'll  buy  it  of 
you,"  he  said,  changing  his  tune.  "  What  will  you 
take?" 

"  I  don't  care  about  selling  to-day,"  answered 
Paul. 

"  I'll  give  you  twenty-five  dollars." 

"  I  can't  sell  without  consulting  my  mother.  It 
belongs  to  her." 

Reluctantly  Eliakim  gave  back  the  ring,  finding 
his  wiles  of  no  effect. 

"  Bring  your  mother  round  to-morrow,"  he  said. 
"  I'll  give  you  a  better  price  than  you  will  get  any- 
where else." 

"  All  right,"  said  Paul.  "  I'll  tell  her  what  you 
say." 

The  old  pawnbroker  followed  Paul  with  wistful 
glances,  vainly  wishing  that  he  had  not  at  first 
depreciated  the  ring  to  such  an  extent,  that  his  sub- 
sequent advances  had  evidently  excited  his  custom- 
er's suspicion  that  it  was  more  valuable  than  he  sup- 
posed. He  felt  that  he  had  lost  it  through  not 
understanding  the  character  of  the  boy  with  whom 
he  had  to  deal. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT  l^f 

**  Well,  Paul,  what  news  of  the  ring  ? ''  asked  Mrs. 
Hoffman,  as  he  re-entered  the  room. 

"  I  was  offered  twenty-five  dollars  for  it/'  said 
Paul. 

"Did  you  sell  it?" 

"  No,  mother." 

"Why  not?"  asked  Jimmy.  "Twenty-five  dol- 
lars is  a  lot  of  money." 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Paul ;  "  but  the  ring  is  worth  a 
great  deal  more." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so,  Paul  ?  " 

"Because  the  offer  was  made  by  a  pawnbroker, 
who  never  pays  quarter  what  an  article  is  worth. 
I  am  sure  the  ring  is  worth  a  hundred  dol- 
lars." 

"  A  hundred  dollars !  "  repeated  Jimmy,  awestruck 
at  the  magnitude  of  the  sum. 

"  Yes,  I  am  sure  it  is  worth  all  that." 

"  What  shall  we  do  about  it,  Paul  ? "  asked  his 
mother.  "  A  hundred  dollars  v'ill  do  us  much  more 
good  than  the  ring." 

"I  know  that,  mother.  What  I  propose  is,  to 
carry  it  to  Ball  &  Black's,  or  Tiffany's,  and  sell  it 
for  whatever  they  say  it  is  worth.  They  are  first- 
class  houses,  and  we  can  depend  upon  fair  treat- 
ment." 

"  Your  advice  is  good,  Paul.  I  think  we  will  fol- 
low it.    When  will  you  go  ?  " 

"I  will  go  at  once.  I  have  nothing  to  do,  and 
I  would  like  to  find  out  as  soon  as  I  can  how  much  it 
will  bring.  Old  Henderson  wanted  me  to  think,  at 
first,  that  it  was  only  imitation,  and  offered  me 
twenty  shillings  on  it.  He's  an  old  cheat.  When  he 
found  that  I  wasn't  to  be  humbugged,  he  raised 
his  offer  by  degrees  to  twenty-five  dollars.  That  was 
what  made  me  suspect  its  value." 


108  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  If  you  get  a  hundred  dollars.  Paul/'  said  Jimmy, 
"  you  can  buy  out  the  stand." 

"  That  depends  on  whether  mother  will  lend  me 
the  money,"  said  Paul.  "  You  know  it's  hers.  She 
may  not  be  willing  to  lend  without  security." 

"  I  am  so  unaccustomed  to  being  a  capitalist,"  said 
Mrs.  Hoffman,  smiling,  "  that  I  sha'n't  know  how  to 
sustain  the  character.  I  don't  think  I  shall  be  afraii? 
to  trust  Paul." 

Once  more,  with  the  ring  carefully  wrapped  in  *■ 
paper  and  deposited  in  his  pocket-book,  Paul  startec' 
up  town.  Tiffany,  whose  fame  as  a  jeweller  i'«, 
world-wide,  was  located  on  Broadway.  Ke  had  nof 
yet  removed  to  his  present  magnifioent  store  oi» 
tJnion  Square.  Paul  knew  the  store,  but  had  nevet 
entered  it.  Now  as  he  entered,  he  was  struck  with 
astonishment  at  the  sight  of  the  immense  and  costly 
stock,  unrivalled  by  any  similar  establishment,  not 
only  in  the  United  States,  but  in  Europe.  Our  hero 
walked  up  to  the  counter,  and  stood  beside  a  richly- 
dressed  lady  who  was  bargaining  for  a  costly  brace- 
let. He  had  to  wait  ten  minutes  while  the  lady  was 
making  her  choice  from  a  number  submitted  to  her 
inspection.  Finally  she  selected  one,  and  paid  for  it. 
The  clerk,  being  now  at  leisure,  turned  to  our  hero 
and  asked : — 

"  Well,  young  man,  what  can  I  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  ring  which  I  should  like  to  show  you. 
I  want  to  know  how  much  it  is  worth." 

"  Very  well.    Let  me  see  it." 

When  Paul  produced  the  diamond  ring,  the  clerk, 
■who  had  long  been  in  the  business,  and  perceived  its 
value  at  once,  started  in  surprise. 

"  This  is  a  very  valuable  ring,"  he  said. 

"  So  I  thought,"  said  Paul.  "  How  much  is  it 
worth?" 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     109 
"Do  you  mean  how   much   should  we   ask   for 

"  No ;  how  much  would  you  give  for  it  ?  " 

"  Probably  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 

Paul  was  quite  startled  on  finding  the  ring  so  much 
more  valuable  than  he  had  supposed.  He  had 
thought  it  might  possibly  be  worth  a  himdred  dol- 
lars; but  he  had  not  imagined  any  rings  were  worth 
as  much  as  the  sum  named. 

"  Will  you  buy  it  of  me  ?  "  he  asked. 

The  clerk  regarded  Paul  attentively,  and,  as  he 
thought,  a  little  suspiciously. 

^^  Does  the  ring  belong  to  you  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  to  my  mother." 

"Where  did  she  buy  it?" 

''  She  didn't  buy  it  at  all.  She  found  it  one  day  at 
Central  Park." 

"  Then  it  does  not  belong  to  her." 

"  It  belongs  to  her  now.  She  advertised  for  an 
owner,  and  examined  the  papers  to  see  if  it  was 
advertised  as  lost,  but  could  hear  nothing  of  the  one 
to  whom  it  belonged." 

"  How  long  ago  was  this  ?  " 

"  Two  years  ago." 

"  I  will  show  the  ring  to  Mr.  Tiffany,"  said  the 
clerk. 

"  Very  well." 

Paul  took  a  seat,  and  waited. 

Soon  Mr.  Tiffany  came  up. 

*^  Are  you  the  boy  who  brought  in  the  ring  ? ''  he 
asked. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"You  say  your  mother  found  it  two  years  ago  in 
Central  Park?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  It  is  a  valuable  ring.    I  should  be  willing  to  buy 


110  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

it  for  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  if  I  were  qnitii 
certain  that  you  had  a  right  to  dispose  of  it." 

"  I  have  told  you  the  truth,  Mr.  Tiffan}^"  sai4 
Paul,  a  little  nettled  at  having  his  word  doulDted. 

"  That  may  be,  but  there  is  still  a  possibility  tha'fe 
the  original  owner  may  turn  up." 

"  Won't  you  buy  it,  then  ? "  asked  Paul,  disap- 
pointed, for,  if  he  were  unable  to  dispose  of  the  ring, 
he  would  have  to  look  elsewhere  for  the  means  of 
buying  out  Barry's  street  stand. 

"  I  don't  say  that ;  but  I  should  want  a  guaranty 
of  indemnity  against  loss  in  case  the  person  who  lost 
it  should  present  a  claim," 

"  In  that  case,"  said  Paul,  "  I  would  give  you  back 
the  money  you  paid  me." 

Mr.  Tiffany  smiled. 

"But  suppose  the  money  were  all  spent,"  he  sug- 
gested. "I  suppose  you  are  intending  to  use  the 
money  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  start  in  business  with  it/'  said 
Paul,  "  and  I  hope  to  add  to  it." 

"  Every  one  thinks  so  who  goes  into  business ;  but 
some  get  disappointed.  You  see,  my  young  friend, 
that  I  should  incur  a  risk.  Remember  I  don't  know 
you.  I  judge  from  your  appearance  that  you  are 
honest;  but  appearances  are  sometimes  deceit- 
ful." 

"  Then  I  suppose  you  won't  buy  it  ?  "  said  Paul, 
who  saw  the  force  of  this  remark. 

"  If  you  can  bring  here  any  responsible  gentleman 
who  knows  you,  and  is  willing  to  guarantee  me 
against  loss  in  the  event  of  the  owner's  being  found, 
I  will  buy  the  ring  for  two  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars." 

Paul  brightened  up.  He  thought  at  once  of  Mr. 
Preston,  and,  from  the  friendly  interest  which  that 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT,     m 

gentleman  appeared  to  take  in  him,  he  judged  that  he 
would  not  refuse  him  this  service. 

"  I  think  I  can  do  that,"  he  said.  "  Do  you  know 
Mr.  Andrew  Preston?  He  is  a  wealthy  gentleman, 
who  lives  on  Madison  Avenue,  between  Thirty-fourth 
and  Thirty-fifth  Streets." 

"  Not  personally.    I  know  him  by  reputation." 

"  Will  he  be  satisfactory  ?  " 

''  Entirely  so." 

**  He  knows  me  well,"  said  Paul.  "  I  think  he  will 
be  willing  to  stand  security  for  me.  I  will  come  back 
in  a  day  or  two." 

Paul  took  the  ring,  and  left  the  store.  He  deter- 
mined to  call  that  evening  on  Mr.  Preston,  and  ask 
^he  favor  indicated. 


CHAPTEE  XVIL 

MR.    FELIX   MONTGOMERY. 

Paul  had  an  errand  farther  up  town,  and,  on 
leaving  Tiffany^s,  walked  up  as  far  as  Twenty-Third 
Street.  Feeling  rather  tired,  he  got  on  board  a  Uni- 
versity Place  car  to  return.  They  had  accomplished, 
perhaps,  half  the  distance,  when,  to  his  surprise, 
George  Barry  entered  the  car. 

"  HoW  do  you  happen  to  be  here,  at  this  time, 
Barry?"  he  asked.  ^^  I  thought  you  werp.  attending 
to  business." 

"  I  closed  up  for  a  couple  of  hours,  having  an  er- 
rand at  home.    Where  have  you  been?'' 

"  To  Tiffany's." 

"What,  the  jeweller's?" 


112  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER ;  OR, 

"  Yes." 

"  To  buy  a  diamond  ring,  I  suppose/'  said  Barry, 


jocosely. 

"  No,  not  to  buy  one,  but  to  sell  one." 

^^  You  are  joking,"  said  his  companion,  incredu- 
lously. 

"  No,  I  am  not.  The  ring  belongs  to  my  mother. 
I  am  trying  to  raise  money  enough  on  it  to  buy  you 
out." 

"  I  didn't  know  your  mother  was  rich  enough  to 
indulge  in  such  expensive  jewelry." 

"  She  isn't,  and  that's  the  reason  I  am  trying  to 
sell  it." 

"  I  mean,  I  didn't  think  she  was  ever  rich  enough." 

"  I'll  explain  it,"  said  Paul.  "  The  ring  was  found 
some  time  since  in  Central  Park.  As  no  owner  has 
ever  appeared,  though  we  advertised  it,  we  consider 
that  it  belongs  to  us." 

"  How  much  is  it  worth  ?  " 

'^  Mr.  Tiffany  offered  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
for  it." 

Barry  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise.  "  Well, 
that  is  what  I  call  luck.     Of  course  you  accepted  it." 

"  I  intend  to  do  so ;  but  I  must  bring  some  gen- 
tleman who  will  guarantee  that  I  am  all  right,  and 
have  the  right  to  sell  it." 

"Can  you  do  that?" 

"  I  think  so ;  I  am  going  to  ask  Mr.  Preston.  I 
ihink  he  will  do  me  that  favor." 

"  Then  there's  a  fair  chance  of  your  buying  me 
out." 

"Yes.  I  guess  I  can  settle  the  whole  thing  up 
to-morrow." 

"  Have  you  got  the  ring  with  you  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

*'  I  should  like  to  see  it,  if  you  have  no  objection." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    113 

Paul  drew  it  from  his  pocket,  and  passed  it  over 
to  Barry. 

"  It's  a  handsome  one,  but  who  would  think  such 
a  little  thing  could  be  worth  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars?'' 

"  I'd  rather  have  the  money  than  the  ring." 

"  So  would  I." 

On  the  right  of  Paul  sat  a  man  of  about  forty, 
well  dressed  and  respectable  in  appearance,  with  a 
heavy  gold  chain  ostentatiously  depending  from  his 
watch-pocket,  and  with  the  air  of  a  substantial  citi- 
zen. He  listened  to  the  conversation  between  Barry 
and  Paul  with  evident  interest,  and  when  Barry  had 
returned  the  ring,  he  said,  "  Young  gentleman,  would 
you  be  kind  enough  to  let  me  look  at  your  ring  ?  I  am 
m3'Self  in  business  as  a  jeweler  in  Syracuse,  and  so 
feel  an  interest  in  examining  it." 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  said  Paul,  the  stranger's  explana- 
tion of  his  motives  inspiring  him  with  perfect  confi- 
dence. 

The  jeweler  from  Syracuse  took  the  ring  in  his 
hands  and  appeared  to  examine  it  carefully. 

"This  is  a  handsome  ring,"  he  said,  ''and  one  of 
great  value.  How  much  were  you  offered  for  it  at 
Tiffany's?" 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 

"  It  is  worth  more." 

"Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  said  Paul;  "but  he  has  to 
sell  it,  and  make  a  profit." 

"  He  could  do  that,  and  yet  make  a  profit.  I  will 
pay  you  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars,  my- 
self,— that  is,  on  one  condition." 

"  I  don't  object  to  getting  twenty-five  dollars 
more,"  said  Paul.    "  What  is  tlie  condition  ?  " 

"  I  have  an  order  from  a  gentleman  for  a  diamond 
ring  for  a  young  lady, — an  engagement  ring,  in  short. 


114  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

If  this  suits  him,  as  I  think  it  will,  I  will  pay  yon 
what  I  said.  I  can  easily  get  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five  from  him/^ 

"  How  are  you  going  to  find  out  whether  it  will  suit 
him?'' 

"  Easily.  He  is  stopping  at  the  same  hotel  with 
me." 

"What  hotel  is  that?" 

"Lovejoy's.  If  you  can  spare  the  time,  and  will 
come  with  me  now,  we  can  arrange  matters  at  once. 
By  the  way,  you  can  refer  me  to  some  responsible 
citizen,  who  will  guarantee  you.  Not  of  course  that 
I  have  any  doubts,  but  we  business  men  are  forced  to 
be  cautious." 

Paul  mentioned  Mr.  Preston's  name. 

"  Quite  satisfactory,"  answered  the  jeweller.  "  I 
know  Mr.  Preston  personally,  and  as  I  am  pressed 
for  time  T  will  accept  hi?  name  without  calling  upon 
him.    What  is  vour  name?" 

"Paul  Hoffman." 

"  I  will  note  it  down." 

The  gentleman  from  Syracuse  drew  out  a  memo- 
randum-book, in  which  he  entered  Paul's  name. 

"  When  you  see  Mr.  Preston,  just  mention  my 
name, — Felix  Montgomery." 

"  I  will  do  so." 

"  Say,  if  you  please,  that  T  would  have  called  upon 
him,  but  coming  to  the  city  strictly  on  business,  was 
too  hurried  to  do  so." 

This  also  Paul  promised,  and  counted  himself  for- 
tunate in  falling  in  with  a  friend,  or,  at  all  events,  ac- 
quaintance of  Mr.  Pre?ton.  since  he  was  likely  to 
make  twenty-five  dollars  more  than  he  could  other- 
wise have  done. 

AVhen  they  irot  out  of  the  cnr  at  the  Astor  House, 
the  stranger  said,  "  It  will  be  half  an  hour  before  J 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    US 

can  reach  Love  joy's,  as  I  have  a  business  call  to  make 
first.  Can  you  call  there,  say,  in  three  quarters  of  an 
hour?" 

''  Yes,  sir." 

"Very  well  then,  I  will  expect  you.  Inquire  for 
me  at  the  desk,  and  ask  the  servant  to  conduct  you 
to  my  room, — you  remember  my  name  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery." 

"  Quite  right.    Good-by  then  till  we  meet." 

Mr.  Felix  Montgomery  went  into  the  Astor  House, 
and  remained  about  five  minutes.  He  then  came  out 
on  the  steps,  and  looking  about  him  to  see  if  Paul 
was  anywhere  near,  descended  the  steps,  and  walked 
across  to  Lovejoy's  Hotel.  Going  up  to  the  desk, 
he  inquired,  "  Can  you  accommodate  me  with  a 
room  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.    Please  enter  your  name." 

The  stranger  entered  his  name  with  a  flourish,  as 
Felix  Montgomery,  Syracuse. 

*'  Room  No.  237,"  said  the  clerk ;  "  will  you  go  up 


now 


?" 


"  Yes,  I  think  so." 

"  Any  luggage  ?  " 

"  My  trunk  will  be  broue^ht  from  the  St.  Nicholas 
in  the  course  of  the  afternoon." 

"  We  require  payment  in  advance  where  there  is 
no  luggage." 

"Very  well.  I  will  pay  for  one  day.  I  am  not 
sure  but  I  shall  get  through  my  business  in  time  to 
go  away  to-morrow." 

Here  the  servant  appeared  to  conduct  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery to  his  room. 

"  By  the  way,"  he  said,  turning  back,  as  if  it  were 
an  after  thought,  "  I  directed  a  boy  to  call  here  for 
me  in  about  half  an  hour.  When  he  comes  you  may 
send  him  up  to  my  room." 


116  PAUL  THE  PEEDLER  ;  OR, 

*'  Very  well,  sir." 

Mr.  Montgomery  followed  the  servant  upstairs  to 
room  No.  237.  It  was  rather  high  up,  but  he  seemed 
well  pleased  that  this  was  the  ease. 

"  Hope  you  won't  get  tired  of  climbing,  sir,"  said 
the  servant. 

"  No,  I've  got  pretty  good  wind." 

"Most  gentlemen  complain  of  going  up  so  far." 

"  It  makes  little  difference  to  me." 

At  length  they  reached  the  room,  and  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery entered. 

"  This  will  answer  very  well,"  he  said,  with  a 
hasty  glance  about  him.  "  When  my  trunk  comes,  I 
want  it  sent  up." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  believe  that  is  all ;  you  can  go." 

The  servant  retired,  and  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery 
sat  down  upon  the  bed. 

"  My  little  plot  seems  likely  to  succeed,"  he  said  to 
himself.  "  I've  been  out  of  luck  lately,  but  this 
boy's  ring  will  give  me  a  lift.  He  can't  suspect  any- 
thing.   He'll  be  sure  to  come." 

Probably  the  reader  has  already  suspected  that 
Mr.  Felix  Montgomery  was  not  a  jeweller  from 
Syracuse,  nor  had  he  any  claim  to  the  name  under 
which  he  at  present  figured.  He  was  a  noted  confi- 
dence man,  who  lived  by  preying  upon  the  com- 
munity. His  appearance  was  in  his  favor,  and  it  was 
his  practice  to  assume  the  dress  and  air  of  a  respect- 
able middle-aged  citizen,  as  in  the  present  instance. 
The  sight  of  the  diamond  ring  had  excited  his  cupid- 
ity, and  he  had  instantly  formed  the  design  of  getting 
possession  of  it,  if  possible.  Thus  far  his  plan  prom- 
ised success. 

Meanwhile  Paul  loitered  away  the  time  in  the  City 
Hall  Park  for  half  an  hour  or  more.    He  did  not  care 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     Hy 

to  go  home  until  his  negotiation  was  complete,  and  he 
could  report  the  ring  sold,  and  carry  home  the  money. 

"  Won't  mother  be  astonished/'  he  thought,  "  at 
the  price  I  got  for  the  ring  ?  I'm  in  luck  this  morn- 
ing." 

When  the  stipulated  time  had  passed,  Paul  rose 
from  the  bench  on  which  he  was  seated,  and  walked 
to  Lovejoy's  Hotel,  not  far  distant. 

"  Has  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery  a  room  here  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  clerk.  "  Did  you  wish  to  see 
him?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  He  mentioned  that  a  boy  would  call  by  appoint- 
ment. Here,  James,  show  this  boy  up  to  isTo.  237, — 
Mr.  Montgomery's  room." 

A  hotel  servant  appeared,  and  Paul  followed  him 
up  several  flights  of  stairs  till  they  stood  before  No. 
237. 

"  This  is  the  room,  sir,"  said  James.  "  Wait  a 
minute,  and  I'll  knock." 

In  answer  to  the  knock,  Mr.  Montgomery  himself 
opened  the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  he  said  to  Paul.  ^^I  was  expecting 
you." 

So  Paul,  not  suspecting  treachei?   entered  No.  237. 


118  PAUL  TBili  FEDDLEK  ;  OB, 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

PAUL  CREATES   A   DISTURBANCE. 

'^  Take  a  seat,"  said  Mr.  MontgoTne^3^  "  My 
friend  will  be  in  directly.  Meanwhile  will  you  let 
me  look  at  the  ring  once  more  ?  " 

Paul  took  it  from  his  pocket,  and  handed  it  to  the 
jeweller  from  Syracuse,  as  he  supposed  him  to  be. 

Mr.  Montgomery  took  it  to  the  window,  and  ap- 
peared to  be  examining  it  carefully. 

He  stood  with  hi?  back  to  Paul,  but  this  did  not 
excite  suspicion  on  the  part  of  our  hero. 

"  I  am  quite  sure,"  he  said,  still  standing  with  his 
back  to  Paul,  "  that  this  will  please  my  friend.  From 
the  instructions  he  gave  me,  it  is  precisely  what  he 
wanted." 

While  uttering  these  words,  he  had  drawn  a  sponge 
and  a  vial  of  chloroform  from  his  side  pocket.  He 
saturated  the  former  from  the  vial,  and  then  turning 
quickly  seized  Paul,  too  much  taken  by  surprise  to 
make  immediate  resistance,  and  applied  the  sponge 
to  his  nose.  When  he  realized  that  foul  play  was 
meditated,  he  began  to  struggle,  but  he  was  in  a  firm 
grasp,  and  the  chloroform  was  already  beginning  to 
do  its  work.  His  head  began  to  swim,  and  he  was 
speedily  in  a  state  of  insensibility.  When  this  was 
accomplished  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery,  eying  the  in- 
sensible boy  with  satisfaction,  put  on  his  hat,  walked 
quickly  to  the  door,  which  he  locked  on  the  outside, 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    Il9 

and  made  his  way  rapidly  downstairs.  Leaving  the 
key  at  the  desk,  he  left  the  hotel  and  disappeared. 

Meanwhile  Paul  slowly  recovered  consciousness. 
As  he  came  to  himselt,  he  looked  about  him  bewil- 
dered, not  at  first  comprehending  where  he  was.  All 
at  once  it  flashed  upon  him,  and  he  jumped  up 
eagerly,  and  rushed  to  the  door.  He  tried  in  vain  to 
open  it. 

"  I  am  regularly  trapped ! "  he  thought,  with  a 
feeling  of  mingled  anger  and  vexation.  "  What  a 
fool  I  was  to  let  myself  be  swindled  so  easily!  I 
wonder  how  long  I  have  been  lying  here  insensi- 
ble ?'' 

Paul  was  not  a  boy  to  give  up  easily.  He  meant 
to  get  back  the  ring  if  it  was  a  possible  thing.  The 
first  thing  was,  of  course,  to  get  out  of  his  present 
confinement.  He  was  not  used  to  hotel  arrange- 
ments, and  never  thought  of  the  bell,  but,  as  the 
only  thing  he  could  think  of,  began  to  pound  upon 
the  door.  But  it  so  happened  that  at  this  time  then 
were  no  servants  on  that  floor,  and  his  appeals  for 
help  were  not  heard.  Every  moment  that  he  had  to 
wait  seemed  at  least  five,  for  no  doubt  the  man  who 
had  swindled  him  was  improving  the  time  to  escape 
to  a  place  of  safety.  Finding  that  his  blows  upon 
the  door  produced  no  effect,  he  began  to  jump  up  and 
down  upon  the  floor,  making,  in  his  heavy  boots,  a 
considerable  noise. 

The  room  directly  under  No.  237  was  occupied  by 
an  old  gentleman  of  a  very  nervous  and  irascible 
temper,  Mr.  Samuel  Piper,  a  co^intry  merchant,  who, 
having  occasion  to  be  in  the  city  on  business  for  a 
few  daj^s,  had  put  up  at  Lovejoy's  Hotel.  He  had 
fatigued  himself  by  some  business  calls,  and  was  now 
taking  a  little  rest  upon  the  bed,  when  he  was  aroused 
from  half  sleep  by  the  pounding  overhead. 


120  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

*^I  wish  people  would  have  the  decency  to  keep 
quiet,"  he  said  to  himself,  peevishly.  "  How  can  I 
rest  with  such  a  confounded  racket  going  on  above !  " 

He  lay  back,  thinkinc^  the  noise  would  cease;  but 
Paul,  finding  the  knocking  on  the  door  ineffectual, 
began  to  jump  up  and  down,  a?  I  have  already  said. 
Of  course  this  noise  was  heard  distinctly  in  the  room 
below. 

"  This  is  getting  intolerable ! "  exclaimed  Mr. 
Piper,  becoming  more  and  more  excited.  "  The  man 
ought  to  be  indicted  as  a  common  nuisance.  How 
they  can  allow  such  goings-on  in  a  respectable  hotel,  I 
can't  understand.  I  should  think  the  fellow  was  split^r 
ting  wood  upstairs." 

He  took  his  cane,  and,  standing  on  the  bed,  strucl 
it  furiously  against  the  ceiling,  intending  it  as  a  sig  • 
nal  to  the  man  above  to  desist.     But  Paul,  catching 
the  response,  began  to  jump  more  furiously  than  ever, 
finding  that  he  had  attracted  attention. 

Mr.  Piper  became  enraged. 

"  The  man  must  be  a  lunatic  or  overcome  by 
drink,"  he  exclaimed.  "  I  can't  and  I  won't  Pyand 
it." 

But  the  noise  kept  on. 

Mr.  Piper  put  on  his  shoes  and  his  coat,  an/^,  seiz- 
ing his  cane,  emerged  upon  the  landing.  He  espied 
a  female  servant  just  coming  upstairs. 

"  Here,  you  Bridget,  or  Nancy,  or  whate^/er  your 
name  is,"  he  roared,  "there's  a  lunatic  upstairs, 
making  a  tremendous  row  in  the  room  o/er  mine. 
If  you  don't  stop  him  I'll  leave  the  hotel.  Hear  him 
now ! " 

Bridget  let  fall  her  duster  in  fright. 

"  Is  it  a  crazy  man  ?  "  she  asked. 

"Of  course  he  must  be.  I  want  70 v  ^0  go  np  and 
stop  him." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANl'.     121 

"  Is  it  me  that  would  go  near  a  crazy  man  ?  "  ex- 
claimed Bridget,  horror-struck ;  "  I  wouldn't  do  it 
for  a  million  dollars ;  no,  I  wouldn't." 

"  I  insist  upon  your  going  up,"  said  Mr.  Piper, 
irritably.  "  He  must  be  stopped.  Do  you  think  I 
am  going  to  stand  such  an  infernal  thumping  over 
my  head  ?  " 

"  I  wouldn't  do  it  if  you'd  go  down  on  your  knees 
to  me,"  said  Brid,cret,  fervently. 

"  Come  along,  I'll  go  with  you." 

But  the  terrified  girl  would  not  budge. 

"  Then  go  down  and  toll  your  ixi aster  there's  a  mad 
man  up  here.    If  you  don't,  I  will." 

This  Bridget  consented  to  do;  and,  going  down- 
stairs, gave  a  not  very  coherent  account  of  the  dis- 
turbance. Three  male  servants  came  back  with 
her. 

"  Is  that  the  man  ?  "  asked  the  first,  pointing  to 
Mr.  Piper,  who  certainly  looked  half  wild  with  irrita- 
tion. 

"  Yes,"  said  Bridget,  stupidly. 

Immediately  Mr.  Piper  found  himself  pinioned  on 
either  side  by  a  stout  servant. 

"  What  have  you  been  kickin'  up  a  row  for?"  de- 
manded the  first. 

^^Let  me  alone,  or  I'll  have  the  law  of  you," 
ecreamed  the  outraged  man.  "  Can't  you  hear  the 
fellow  that's  making  the  racket  ?  " 

Paul,  tired  with  thumping,  had  desisted  for  a  mo- 
ment, but  now  had  recommenced  with  increased  en- 
ergy. The  sounds  could  be  distinctly  heard  on  the 
floor  below. 

"  Excuse  me,  sir.  I  made  a  mistake,"  said  the 
first  speaker,  releasing  his  hold.  "  We'll  go  up  and 
Bee  what's  the  matter." 

So  the  party  went  upstairs,  followed  at  a  distance 


122  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

b}'  Bridget,  who,  influenced  alike  by  fear  and  curios- 
ity, did  not  know  whether  to  go  up  or  retreat. 

The  sounds  were  easily  traced  to  room  Xo.  237. 
In  front  of  this,  therefore,  the  party  congregated. 

"  What's  the  matter  in  there  ?  "  asked  James,  the 
first  servant,  putting  his  lips  to  the  keyhole. 

"Yes,"  chimed  in  Mr.  Piper,  irritably;  "what  do 
you  mean  by  such  an  infernal  hubbub?  " 

"  Open  the  door,  and  let  me  out,"  returned  Paul, 
eagerly. 

The  party  looked  at  each  other  in  surprise.  They 
did  not  expect  to  find  the  desperate  maniac  a  boy. 

"  Perhaps  there's  more  than  one  of  them,"  sug- 
gested the  second  servant,  prudently. 

"  \Yhy  don't  you  come  out  yourself  ?  "  asked  James. 

"  I  am  locked  in." 

The  door  was  opened  with  a  pass-key,  and  Pau/ 
confronted  the  party. 

"  Now,  young  man,  what  do  you  mean,  by  making 
such  a  disturbance  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Piper,  excitably. 
"  My  room  is  just  below,  and  I  expected  every  min- 
ute you  would  come  through." 

"  T  am  sorry  if  I  disturbed  you,  sir,"  said  Paul,  po- 
litely ;  "  but  it  was  the  only  way  I  could  attract  at- 
tention." 

"  How  came  5^ou  locked  up  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  chimed  in  James,  suspiciously,  "  how  came 
you  locked  up  here  ?  " 

"  I  was  drugged  with  chloroform,  and  locked  in," 
said  Paul. 

"Who  did  it?" 

"  Mr.  Felix  jMontgomery ;  or  that's  what  he  called 
himself.    I  came  here  bv  appointment  to  meet  him." 

"What  did  he  do  that  for?" 

"  He  has  carried  off  a  diamond  ring  which  I  came 
np  here  to  sell  him." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STkEET  MERCHANT.     123 

"A  very  improbable  story/'  said  Mr.  Piper,  sus- 
piciously. "  What  should  such  a  boy  have  to  do  with 
a  diamond  ring  ?  " 

Nothing  is  easier  than  to  impart  suspicion.  Men 
are  prone  to  believe  evil  of  each  other;  and  Paul  was 
destined  to  realize  this.  The  hotel  servants,  igno- 
rant and  suspicious,  caught  the  suggestion. 

"  It's  likely  he's  a  thafe,"  sai(?  Bridget,  from  a  safe 
distance. 

"If  I  were,"  said  Paul,  coolly,  "I  shouldn't  be 
apt  to  call  your  attention  by  such  a  noise.  I  can 
prove  to  you  that  I  am  telling  the  truth.  I  stopped 
at  the  office,  and  the  book-keeper  sent  a  servant  to 
show  me  up  here." 

"  If  this  is  true,"  said  Mr.  Piper,  "  why,  when  you 
found  yourself  locked  in,  didn't  you  ring  the  bell, 
instead  of  making  such  a  confounded  racket?  My 
nerves  won't  get  over  it  for  a  week." 

"I  didn't  think  of  the  bell,"  said  Paul;  "I  am 
not  much  used  to  hotels." 

"  What  will  we  do  with  him  ?  "  asked  James,  look- 
ing to  Mr.  Piper  for  counsel. 

"  You'd  better  take  him  downstairs,  and  see  if  his 
story  is  correct,"  said  the  nervous  gentleman,  with 
returning  good  sense. 

"  I'll  do  it,"  said  James,  to  whom  the  very  obvious 
suggestion  seemed  marked  by  extraordinary  wisdom, 
and  he  grasped  Paul  roughly  by  the  arm. 

"  You  needn't  hold  me,"  said  our  hero,  shaking  off 
the  grasp.  "  I  haven't  any  intention  of  running 
away.  I  want  to  find  out,  if  I  can,  what  has  become 
of  the  man  that  swindled  me." 

James  looked  doubtfully  at  Mr.  Piper. 

"  I  don't  think  he  means  to  run  away,"  said  that 
gentleman.  "  I  begin  to  think  his  story  is  correct. 
And  hark  you,  my  young  friend,  if  you  ever  get 


124  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

locked  up  in  a  hotel  room  again,  just  see  if  there 
is  a  bell  iDefore  you  make  such  a  confounded  racket/* 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  will/'  said  Paul,  half  smiling ;  "  but 
I'll  take  care  not  to  get  locked  up  again.  It  won't 
be  easy  for  anybody  to  play  that  trick  on  me  again." 

The  party  filed  downstairs  to  the  office,  and  Paul 
told  his  story  to  the  book-keeper. 

"  Have  you  seen  Mr.  Montgomery  go  out  ?  "  asked 
our  hero. 

"  Yes,  he  went  out  half  an  hour  ago,  or  perhaps 
more.  He  left  his  key  at  the  desk,  but  said  nothing. 
He  seemed  to  be  in  a  hurry." 

"  You  didn't  notice  in  what  direction  he  went." 

"  No." 

Of  course  no  attempt  was  made  to  detain  Paul. 
There  could  be  no  case  against  him.  He  went  out 
of  the  hotel,  and  looked  up  and  down  Broadway  in 
a  state  of  indecision.  He  did  not  mean  to  sit  down 
passively  and  submit  to  the  swindle.  But  he  had 
no  idea  in  what  direction  to  search  for  Mr.  Felix 
Montgomery. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

PAUL  DELIBERATES. 

Paul  stood  in  the  street  irresolute.  He  looked 
hopelessly  up  and  down  Broadway,  but  of  course  the 
jeweller  from  Syracuse  was  not  to  be  seen.  Seeking 
for  him  in  a  city  containing  hundreds  of  streets  and 
a  million  of  inhabitants  was  about  as  discouraging 
as  hunting  for  a  needle  in  a  haystack.  But,  difficult 
as  it  was,  Paul  was  by  no  means  ready  to  give  up  the 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    125 

search.  Indeed,  besides  the  regret  he  felt  at  the 
loss,  he  was  mortified  at  having  been  so  easily  out- 
witted. 

"He^s  taken  me  in  jnst  as  if  I  was  a  country 
boy,"  thought  Paul.  "  I  dare  say  he's  laughing  at  me 
now.    I'd  like  to  get  even  with  him.'' 

Finally  he  decided  to  go  to  Tiffany's,  and  ask  them 
to  detain  any  one  who  might  bring  in  the  ring  and 
offer  it  for  sale.  He  at  once  acted  upon  his  thought, 
and  hailing  a  Broadway  stage,  for  no  time  was  to  be 
lost,  soon  reached  his  destination.  Entering  the  store, 
he  walked  up  to  the  counter  and  addressed  the  clerk 
to  whom  he  had  before  shown  the  ring. 

"  Do  you  remember  my  offering  you  a  diamond  ring 
for  sale  this  morning  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  I  remember  it  very  well.  Have  you  got  it 
with  you  ?  " 

"  No.  it  has  been  stolen  from  me." 

"  Indeed  !  How  was  that  ?  "  asked  the  clerk,  with 
interest. 

"  I  met  in  the  cars  a  well-dressed  man,  who  called 
himself  a  jeweler  from  Syracuse.  He  examined  the 
ring,  and  offered  me  more  than  Mr.  Tiffany,  but 
asked  me  to  bring  it  to  him  at  Lovejoy's  Hotel. 
When  I  got  there,  he  drugged  me  with  chloroform, 
and  when  I  recovered  he  was  gone." 

"  You  have  been  unlucky.  There  are  plenty  of 
such  swindlers  about.  You  should  have  been  careful 
about, displaying  the  ring  before  strangers." 

"  I  was  showing  it  to  a  friend." 

^^Have   you    notified    the    police?" 

"  Not  yet.  I  came  here  to  let  you  know,  because 
I  thought  the  thief  might  bring  it  in  here  to  sell." 

"  Very  likely.    Give  me  a  description  of  him." 

Paul  described  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery  to  the  best  of 
his  ability. 


X26  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  I  think  I  should  know  him  from  3^our  description. 
I  will  speak  to  Mr.  Tiffany,  and  he  will  no  doubt 
give  orders  to  detain  any  person  who  may  offer  the 
ring  for  sale." 

"  Thank  you." 

"  If  you  will  give  me  your  address,  we  will  notify 
you  in  case  the  ring  is  brought  in." 

Paul  left  his  address,  and  went  out  of  the  store, 
feeling  that  he  had  taken  one  step  towards  the  recov- 
ery of  his  treasure.  He  next  visited  the  police  head- 
quarters, and  left  a  detailed  description  of  the  man 
who  had  relieved  him  of  the  ring,  and  of  the  circum- 
stances attending  the  robbery.     Then  he  went  home. 

His  mother  looked  up  as  he  entered. 

"  Well,  Paul  ?  "  she  said,  inquiringly. 

"  I've  got  bad  news,  mother,"  he  said. 

"  What  is  it?    Tell  me  quick  !  "  she  said  nervously. 

"  The  ring  has  been  stolen  from  me." 

*'  How  did  it  happen,  Paul  ?  " 

*'  First,  I  must  tell  you  how  much  the  ring  is 
worth.  I  went  up  to  Tiffany's,  and  showed  the  ring 
to  Mr.  Tiffany  himself.  He  told  me  that  he  would 
give  me  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  it,  if  I 
would  satisfy  him  that  I  had  a  right  to  sell  it." 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars ! "  repeated  Mrs. 
Hoffman,  in  amazement. 

"  Yes,  the  diamond  is  very  large  and  pure." 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  would  be  a  great 
help  to  us." 

"  Yes,  mother,  that  is  what  makes  me  feel  so  bad 
about  being  swindled  out  of  it." 

"  Tell  me  how  it  happened.  Is  there  no  chance  of 
recovering  it  ?  " 

"  A  little.  I  shall  do  what  I  can.  I  have  already 
notified  the  police,  and  Mr.  Tiffany." 

**  You  have  not  told  me  yet  how  you  lost  it." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    12? 

When  Paul  had  told  the  story,  his  mother  asked, 
*'  Did  you  mention  it  in  the  cars  that  you  had  ofiered 
it  at  Tiffany's?" 

"  Yes,  and  I  mentioned  his  offer/' 

"  Perhaps  the  thief  would  be  cautious  about  going 
there,  for  that  very  reason.  He  might  think  the  ring 
would  be  recognized." 

*'  He  would  go  to  a  large  place,  thinking  that  so 
valuable  a  ring  would  be  more  readily  purchased 
there." 

"  He  might  go  to  Ball  &  Black's." 

"  That  is  true." 

^'  It  would  be  w^ell  to  give  notice  there  also." 

"I  will  go  up  there  at  once.  I  only  wish  I  could 
meet  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery ;  I  don't  think  he  would 
find  it  so  easy  to  outreach  me  a  second  time." 

"  Take  some  dinner  first,  Paul." 

"  Then  I  must  hurry  it  down,  mother ;  I  don't 
•want  to  run  the  risk  of  getting  too  late  to  Ball  & 
Black's.  I  can't  help  thinking  what  a  splendid  thing 
it  would  be  if  we  had  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars. I  would  buy  out  Barry's  stand,  and  I  would 
get  a  sewing-machine  for  you,  and  we  could  live 
much  more  comfortably.  It  makes  me  mad  to  think 
I  let  that  villain  take  me  in  so !  He  must  think  me 
jolly  green." 

"  Anybody  might  have  been  deceived,  Paul.  You 
mustn't  blame  yourself  too  much  for  that." 

Leaving  Paul  on  his  way  to  Ball  &  Black's,  we 
return  to  Mr.  Felix  ]\Iontgomery,  as  we  shall  con- 
tinue to  call  him,  though  he  had  no  right  to  the  name. 
After  stupefying  Paul,  as  already  described,  he  made 
his  way  downstairs,  and,  leaving  his  key  at  the  desk, 
went  out. 

"  I  hope  my  young  friend  will  enjoy  himself  up- 
stairs," he  chuckled  to  himself.     "  iSe's  quite  wel- 


128  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

come  to  the  use  of  the  room  till  to-morrow  morning. 
It's  paid  for  in  advance,  and  I  don't  think  I  shall  find 
it  convenient  to  stop  there." 

He  took  the  ring  from  his  vest-pocket,  and  glanced 
at  it  furtively. 

"  It's  a  beauty,"  he  murmured,  complacently.  "  I 
never  saw  a  handsomer  ring  of  the  size.  What  was 
it  the  boy  said  he  was  offered  for  it?  Two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars!  That'll  give  me  a  lift,  and  it 
doesn't  come  any  too  soon.    My  money  is  pretty  low.'^ 

He  walked  across  the  City  Hall  Park,  and  at  Baiv 
clay  Street  entered  a  University  Place  car. 

"  Evenin'  paper,  mister  ?  "  said  a  ragged  newsboy, 
whose  garments  were  constructed  on  the  most  ap- 
proved system  of  ventilation. 

"  What  have  you  got  ?  " 

"  '  Evenin'  Post,'  '  Mail,'  '  Express ! '  " 

"  Give  me  an  '  Express.'    Here's  ten  cents." 

"  I  haven't  got  but  three  cents  change,  mister.'^ 

"  Xever  mind' the  change,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery, 
in  a  fit  of  temporary  generosit}^,  occasioned  by  his 
good  luck. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  the  newsboy,  regarding  Mr. 
Montgomery  as  a  philanthropist  worthy  of  his  ven- 
eration. 

Felix  Montgomery  leaned  back  in  his  seat,  and, 
with  a  benevolent  smile,  ran  his  eyes  over  the  col- 
umns of  the  "  Express."  Among  the  paragraphs 
which  attracted  his  attention  was  one  relating  to  a 
comrade,  of  similar  profession,  who  had  just  been 
arrested  in  Albany  while  in  the  act  of  relieving  a 
gentleman  of  his  pocket-book. 

"  Jerry  always  was  a  bungler,"  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, complacently,  to  himself.  "  He  can't  hold 
a  candle  to  me.  I  flatter  myself  that  I  know  how 
to  manage  a  little  affair,  like  this,  for  instance,  as 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    129 

well  as  the  next  man.  It'll  take  a  sharp  detective  to 
lay  hold  of  me." 

It  might  have  been  thought  that  the  manner  in 
which  he  had  gained  possession  of  the  ring  would 
have  troubled  Mr.  Montgomery,  but  it  was  many 
years  since  he  had  led  an  honest  life.  He  had  made 
a  living  by  overreaching  others,  and  his  conscience 
had  become  so  blunted  as  to  occasion  him  little 
trouble.  He  appeared  to  think  that  the  world  owed 
him  a  living,  and  that  he  was  quite  justified  in  col- 
lecting the  debt  in  any  way  he  could. 

About  twenty  minutes  brought  the  car  to  Amity 
Street.  Mr.  Montgomery  signalled  the  conductor, 
and  the  car  being  stopped  he  got  out. 

He  walked  a  few  rods  in  a  westerly  direction,  and 
paused  before  a  three-story  brick  house,  which  ap- 
peared to  have  seen  better  days.  It  was  now  used 
as  a  boarding,  or  rather  lodging  house.  The  guests 
were  not  of  a  very  high  character,  the  landlady  not 
oeing  particular  as  long  as  her  rent  was  paid  regu- 
larly. Mr.  Montgomery  ascended  the  steps  in  a 
jaunty  way,  and,  opening  the  door  with  a  pass-key, 
ascended  the  front  staircase.  He  paused  before  a 
room  on  the  third  floor,  and  knocked  in  a  peculiar 
manner. 

The  door  was  opened  by  a  tall  woman,  in  rather 
neglected  attire. 

"  So  you're  back,"  she  said. 

"Yes,  my  dear,  home  again.  As  the  poet  says, 
'  There  is  no  place  like  home.'  " 

'^  I  should  hope  there  wasn't,"  said  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery, looking  about  her  disdainfully.  "A  very 
delightful  home  it  makes  with  such  a  charming 
prospect  of  the  back  yard.  I've  been  moping  here 
all  day." 

"  You've  found  something  to  console  you,  I  see,* 


130  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

said  her  husband,  glancing  at  the  table,  on  which 
might  be  seen  a  bottle  of  brandy,  half  emptied,  and 
a  glass. 

"Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Montgomery;  "I  felt  so  bad  I 
had  to  send  out  for  sbmething.  It  took  every  cent 
I  had.  And,  by  the  way,  Mrs.  Flagg  sent  in  her 
bill,  this  morning,  for  the  last  two  weeks'  board; 
she  said  she  must  have  it." 

"  My  dear,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery,  "  she  shall  have 
it." 

"Yon  don't  mean  to  say  you've  got  the  money, 
Tony !  "  exclaimed  his  wife,  in  surprise. 

"  No,  I  haven't  got  the  money;  but  I've  got  what's 
just  as  good." 

"  What  have  you  got  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  say  to  this  ?  "  and  Mr.  Montgomery 
drew  from  his  pocket  the  diamond-ring,  whose  loss 
was  so  deeply  felt  by  our  hero. 

"  Is  that  genuine  ?  "  asked  the  lady. 

"  It's  the  real  thing." 

"  Wliat  a  beauty !    Wliere  did  you  get  it  ?  " 

"  It  was  kindly  presented  me  by  a  young  man  of 
the  tender  age  of  fifteen  or  thereabouts,  who  had 
no  further  use  for  it." 

"  You  did  him  out  of  it,  that  is.  Tell  me  how  you 
did  it." 

Mr.  Montgomery  told  the  story.  His  wife  listened 
with  interest  and  appreciation. 

"  That  was  a  smart  operation,  Tony,"  she  said. 

"  I  should  say  it  was.  Maria." 

"  How  much  is  the  ring  worth?  " 

"  Two  hundred  and  fiftv  dollars." 

"Canyouget  that  for  it?" 

"  I  can  get  that  for  it.'* 

"  Tony,  you  are  a  treasure." 

**  Have  you  just  found  that  out,  my  dear  I'* 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    131 


CHAPTEE  XX. 

FELIX  MONTGOMERY  IN  A  NEW   CHARACTER. 

It  will  be  inferred,  from  the  preceding  conversa- 
tion, that  Mrs.  Montgomery  was  not  likely  to  be 
shocked  by  the  lack  of  honesty  in  her  husband.  Her 
conscience  was  as  elastic  as  his ;  and  she  was  perfectly 
willing  to  help  him  spend  his  unlawful  gains. 

"  How  soon  are  you  going  to  sell  the  ring  ?  "  she 
asked. 

"  I  should  like  to  dispose  of  it  at  once,  Maria." 

"  You  will  need  to.  Mrs.  Flagg  wants  her  bill 
paid  at  once." 

'^  I  quite  understand  the  necessity  of  promptness, 
my  dear.  Only,  you  know,  one  has  to  be  cautious 
about  disposing  of  articles  obtained  in  this  way." 

"  You  say  you  left  the  boy  locked  up.  It  seems 
to  me  you'd  better  sell  the  ring  before  he  has  a 
chance  to  get  out  and  interfere." 

"I  don't  know  but  you're  right,  my  dear.  Well, 
we'll  get  ready." 

"  Do  you  want  me  to  go  with  you  ?  " 
-  "  Yes ;  it  will  disarm  suspicion  if  you  are  with  me. 
I  think  I'll  go  as  a  country  parson." 

"  Country  parsons  are  not  apt  to  have  diamond 
rings  to  dispose  of." 

"  Very  true,  my  dear.  The  remark  does  credit  to 
your  good  judgment  and  penetration.  But  I  know 
how  to  get  over  that/' 


132  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"As  how?" 

"  Be  a  little  more  particular  about  your  speech, 
my  dear.  Piemember,  you  are  a  minister's  wife,  and 
must  use  refined  expressions.  What  is  easier  than 
to  say  that  the  ring  was  given  me  by  a  benevolent 
lady  of  my  congregation,  to  dispose  of  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  poor." 

"  Well  thought  of,  Tony.  You've  got  a  good  head- 
piece." 

"  You're  right,  my  dear.  I  don't  like  to  indulge  in 
self-praise,  but  I  believe  I  know  a  thing  or  two. 
And  now  for  the  masquerade.    Where  are  the  duds  ? '' 

"  In  the  black  trunk." 

^^  Then  we'd  better  lose  no  time  in  putting  them 
on." 

Without  describing  the  process  of  transformation 
in  detail,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  say  that  the  next 
twenty  minutes  wrought  a  decided  change  in  the 
appearance  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Felix  Montgomery.  The 
former  was  arrayed  in  a  suit  of  canonical  black,  not 
of  the  latest  cut.  A  white  neck-cloth  was  substituted 
for  the  more  gaudy  article  worn  by  the  jeweller  from 
Syracuse,  and  a  pair  of  silver-bowed  spectacles,  com- 
posed of  plain  glass,  lent  a  scholarly  air  to  his  face. 
His  hair  was  combed  behind  his  ears;  and,  so  far  as 
appearance  went,  he  quite  looked  the  character  of  a 
clergyman  from  the  rural  districts. 

"  How  will  I  do,  my  dear  ? "  he  asked,  compla- 
cently. 

"  Tip-top,"  answered  the  lady.    "  How  do  I  look  ?  " 

Mrs,  Montgomery  had  put  on  a  dress  of  sober  tint, 
and  scant  circumference,  contrasting  in  a  marked 
manner  with  the  mode  then  prevailing.  A  very  plain 
collar  encircled  her  neck.  Her  hands  were  encased 
in  brown  silk  gloves,  while  her  husband  wore  black 
kids.     Her  bonnet  was  exceedingly  plain,  and  her 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    I33 

whole  costume  was  almost  Quaker-like  in  its  sim?- 
plicity. 

Her  husband  surve^^ed  her  with  satisfaction. 

"  My  dear/'  he  said,  "  you  are  a  fitting  helpmeet 
for  the  Eev.  Mr.  Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Centre.,  By 
Jove,  you  do  me  credit !  " 

"  By  Jove  is  not  a  proper  expression  for  a  man  of 
your  profession,  Mr.  Barnes/'  said  the  new  minister's 
wife,  with  a  smile. 

"  You  are  right,  my  dear.  I  must  eschew  pro- 
fanity, and  cultivate  a  decorous  style  of  speech.  Well, 
are  we  readv  ?  " 

^^lam.""' 

'^  Then  let  us  set  forth  on  our  pilgrimage.  We  will 
imagine,  Mrs.  Barnes,  that  we  are  about  to  make 
some  pastoral  calls." 

They  emerged  into  the  street.  On  the  way  down- 
stairs they  met  Mrs.  Flagg,  the  landlady,  who  bowed 
respectfully.  She  was  somewhat  puzzled,  however, 
not  knowing  when  they  were  let  in. 

"  Good-morning,  madam,"  said  Mr.  Barnes.  "Are 
you  the  landlady  of  this  establishment?" 

''  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  have  been  calling  on  one  of  your  lodgers, — Mr. 
Anthony  Blodgett  (this  was  the  name  by  which  Mr. 
Felix  Montgomery  was  known  in  the  house).  He  is 
a  very  worthy  man." 

Now,  to  tell  the  truth,  Mrs,  Flagg  had  not  been 
particularly  struck  by  the  moral  worth  of  her  lodger, 
and  this  testimony  led  her  to  entertain  doubts  as  to 
the  discernment  of  her  clerical  visitor. 

"  You  know  him  then  ?  " 

"  I  know  him  as  myself,  madam.  Have  you  never 
heard  him  mention  the  name  of  Eev.  Mr.  Barnes,  of 
Hayfield  Centre,  Connecticut?" 

"I  can't  say  I  have,"  answered  the  landlady. 


134:  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"That  is  singular.  We  were  always  very  inti- 
mate. We  attended  the  same  school  as  boys^  and  in 
fact  were  like  Damon  and  Pythias." 

Mrs.  Flagg  had  never  heard  of  Damon  and  Py- 
thias, still  she  understood  the  comparison. 

"  You're  in  rather  a  different  line  now/'  she  re- 
marked, drily. 

"Yes,  our  positions  are  different.  My  friend 
dwells  in  the  busy  metropolis,  while  I  pass  a  quiet, 
peaceful  existence  in  a  secluded  country  village,  doing 
what  good  I  can.  But,  my  dear,  we  are  perhaps  de- 
taining this  worthy  lady  from  her  domestic  avoca- 
tions.   I  think  we  must  be  going." 

"  Very  well,  I  am  ready." 

The  first  sound  of  her  voice  drew  the  attention  of 
the  landlady.  Mrs.  Felix  Montgomery  possessed  a 
thin,  somewhat  shrill  voice,  which  she  was  unable  to 
conceal,  and,  looking  attentively  at  her,  Mrs.  Flagg 
penetrated  her  disguise.  Then  turning  quickly  to 
the  gentleman,  aided  by  her  new  discovery,  she  also 
recognized  him. 

"  Well,  I  declare,"  said  she,  "  if  j^ou  didn't  take  me 
in  beautifully." 

Mr.  Montgomery  laughed  heartily. 

"  You  wouldn't  know  me  then  ?  "  he  said. 

"  You're  got  up  excellent,"  said  Mrs.  Flagg,  with  a 
slight  disregard  for  grammar.    "  Is  it  a  joke  ?  " 

"  Yes,  a  little  practical  joke.  We're  going  to  call 
on  some  friends,  and  see  if  they  know  us." 

"You'd  do  for  the  theatre,"  said  the  landlady, 
admiringly. 

"  I  flatter  m^^self  T  might  have  done  something  on 
the  stage,  if  my  attention  had  been  turned  that  way. 
But,  my  dear,  we  must  be  moving,  or  we  shan't  get 
through  our  calls." 

"I  wonder  what  mischief  they  are  up  to  now/' 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     135 

thought  Mrs.  Flagg,  as  she  followed  them  to  the 
door.  "  I  know  better  than  to  think  they'd  take  the 
trouble  to  dress  up  that  way  just  to  take  in  their 
friends.  No,  they're  up  to  some  game.  Not  that  I 
care,  as  long  as  they  get  money  enough  to  pay  my 
bill.'' 

So  the  worldly  wise  landlady  dismissed  them  from 
her  thoughts,  and  went  about  her  work. 

Mr.  Barnes  and  his  wife  walked  up  towards  Broad- 
way at  a  slow,  decorous  pace,  suited  to  the  character 
they  had  assumed.  More  than  one  who  met  them 
turned  back  to  look  at  what  they  considered  a  perfect 
type  of  the  country  minister  and  his  wife.  They 
would  have  been  not  a  little  surprised  to  learn  that 
under  this  quiet  garb  walked  two  of  the  most  accom- 
plished swindlers  in  a  city  abounding  in  adventurers 
of  all  kinds. 

Ml.  Barnes  paused  a  moment  to  reprove  a  couple 
of  urchins  who  were  pitching  pennies  on  the  side- 
walk. 

"  Don't  you  know  that  it's  wrong  to  pitch  pen- 
nies ?  "  he  said,  gravely. 

"  None  of  your  chaff,  mister,"  retorted  one  of  the 
street  boys,  irreverently.  "  Wlien  did  you  come  from 
the  country,  old  Goo-gjes?" 

"  My  son,  you  should  address  me  with  more  re- 
spect." 

"  Just  get  out  of  the  way,  mister !  I  don't  want  to 
hear  no  preachin'." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  have  been  badly  brought  up,  my 
son." 

"  I  ain't  your  son,  and  I  wouldn't  be  for  a  shillin'. 
Just  you  go  along,  and  let  me  alone !  " 

"  A  sad  case  of  depravity,  my  dear,"  remarked  Mr. 
Barnes  to  his  wife.  "  I  fear  we  must  leave  these  boys 
to  their  evil  ways." 


X36  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

^'  You'd  better,"  said  one  of  the  boys. 

"  They're  smart  little  rascals !  "  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, when  they  were  out  of  hearing  of  the  boys. 
"I  took  them  in,  though.  They  thought  I  was  the 
genuine  article." 

"  We'd  better  not  waste  any  more  time,"  said  his 
wife.  "  That  boy  might  get  out,  you  know,  and  give 
us  trouble." 

"  I  don't  believe  he  will  get  out  in  a  hurry.  I 
locked  the  door,  and  he'd  have  to  pound  some  time 
before  he  could  make  any  one  hear.  I  declare,  I 
should  like  to  see  how  he  looked  when  he  recovered 
from  his  stupor,  and  realized  that  his  ring  was  gone." 

"  What  sort  of  a  boy  was  he,  Tony  ?  " 

"Better  not  call  me  by  that  name,  my  dear.  It 
might  be  hard,  you  know,  and  might  not  be  con- 
sidered in  character.  As  to  your  question,  he  was 
by  no  means  a  stupid  boy.  Eather  sharpish,  I  should 
say." 

"  Then  how  came  he  to  let  you  take  him  in  ?  " 

"  As  to  that,  I  claim  to  be  rather  sharp  myself,  and 
quite  a  match  even  for  a  smart  boy.  I  haven't 
knocked  about  the  world  forty-four  years  for  noth- 
ing." 

They  were  now  in  Broadway.  Turning  the  corner 
of  Amity  Street,  they  walked  a  short  distance  down 
town,  and  paused  before  the  handsome  jewelry  store 
of  Ball  &  Black. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  go  in  here,"  said  Felix 
Montgomery — (I  hesitate  a  little  by  which  of  his 
numerous  names  to  call  him). 

"  Why  not  go  to  Tiif any's  ?  " 

"  I  gather  from  what  the  boy  told  me  that  the  ring 
has  already  been  offered  there.  It  would  be  very 
likely  to  be  recognized,  and  that  would  be  awkward, 
you  know." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     137 

"  Are  you  sure  the  ring  has  not  been  offered  here  ?  ^' 
asked  his  wife. 

"  Quite  sure.  The  boy  would  have  mentioned  it, 
had  such  been  the  case." 

"  Very  well.    Let  us  go  in  then." 

The  Eev.  Mr.  Barnes  and  his  wife,  of  Hayfield 
Centre,  entered  the  elegant  store,  and  ten  minutes 
later  Paul  Hoffman  entered  also,  and  took  his  station 
at  the  counter,  wholly  unconscious  of  the  near  prox- 
imity of  the  man  who  had  so  artfully  swindled  him. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

PAUL  IS  CHECKMATED. 

On  entering  the  large  jewelry  store,  Mr.  Montgom- 
ery and  his  wife  walked  to  the  rear  of  the  store,  and 
advanced  to  the  counter,  behind  which  stood  a  clerk 
unengaged. 

"  What  shall  I  show  you  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  I  didn't  come  to  purchase,"  said  Mr.  Montgom- 
er}%  with  suavity,  "  but  to  sell.  I  suppose  you  pur- 
chase jewelry  at  times." 

"  Sometimes/'  said  the  clerk.  "  Let  me  see  what 
you  have." 

"  First,"  said  the  adventurer,  "  let  me  introduce 
myself.  I  am  the  Eev.  Mr.  Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Cen- 
tre, Connecticut.    You  perhaps  know  the  place?" 

*^I  don't  think  I  remember  it,"  said  the  clerk, 
respectfully. 

"  It  is  a  small  place,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery,  mod- 
estly, "but  my  tastes  are  plain  and  unobtrusive,  and 
I  do  not  aspire  to  a  more  conspicuous  post.     How- 


138  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

ever,  that  is  not  to  the  purpose.  A  lady  parishioner, 
desiring  to  donate  a  portion  of  her  wealth  to  the 
poor,  has  placed  in  my  hand  a  diamond  ring,  the  pro- 
ceeds to  be  devoted  to  charitable  objects.  I  desire  to 
sell  it,  and,  knowing  the  high  reputation  of  your  firm, 
feel  safe  in  offering  it  to  you.  I  know  very  little  of 
the  value  of  such  things,  since  they  are  not  in  my 
line,  but  I  am  sure  of  fair  treatment  at  jour  hands.^' 

"  You  may  depend  upon  that,''  said  the  clerk,  fa- 
vorably impressed  with  the  appearance  and  manners 
of  his  customer.    "  Allow  me  to  see  the  ring." 

The  brilliant  was  handed  over  the  counter. 

"  It  is  quite  valuable,"  said  he,  scrutinizing  it 
closely. 

"  So  I  supposed,  as  the  lady  is  possessed  of  wealth. 
You  may  rely  upon  its  being  genuine." 

"  I  am  not  authorized  to  purchase,"  said  the  clerk, 
''  but  I  will  show  it  to  one  of  the  firm." 

Just  at  that  moment  Mr.  Montgomery,  chancing 
to  look  towards  the  door,  w^as  startled  by  seeing  the 
entrance  of  Paul  Hoffman.  He  saw  that  it  would  be 
dangerous  to  carry  the  negotiation  any  farther,  and 
quickly  gave  a  secret  signal  to  his  wife. 

The  hint  was  instantly  understood  and  acted  upon. 

Mrs.  Montgomery  uttered  a  slight  cr}^,  and  clung 
to  her  husband's  arm. 

"  My  dear,"  she  said,  "  I  feel  one  of  my  attacks 
coming  on.    Take  me  out  quickly." 

"  My  wife  is  suddenly  taken  sick,"  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, hurriedly.  "  She  is  subject  to  fits.  If  you 
will  give  me  the  ring,  I  wall  return  to-morrow  and 
negotiate  for  its  sale." 

"  I  am  very  sorry,"  said  the  clerk,  with  sympathy, 
handing  back  the  ring.  "  Can  I  get  anvthing  for  the 
lady?" 

"  No,  thank  you.     The  best  thing  to  do  is  to  get 


.IU3VENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     I39 

her  into  the  open  air.  Thank  you  for  your  kind- 
ness/' 

"Let  me  help  you/'  said  the  clerk,  and  coming 
from  behind  the  counter  he  took  one  arm  of  ]\Irs. 
Montgomery,  who,  leaning  heavily  on  her  husband 
and  the  clerk,  walked,  or  rather  was  carried,  to  the 
street  door. 

Of  course  the  attention  of  all  within  the  store  was 
drawn  to  the  party. 

"  What  was  the  matter  ?  "  inquired  a  fellow-clerk, 
as  the  salesman  returned. 

"  It  was  a  clergyman  from  Connecticut,  who 
wished  to  sell  a  diamond  ring,  given  him  for  chari- 
table purposes.  His  wife  was  taken  suddenly  sick. 
He  will  bring  it  back  to-morrow." 

"  Was  the  ring  a  valuable  one  ?  " 

"  It  must  be  worth  in  the  neighborhood  of  three 
hundred  dollars.'' 

Paul  listened  to  this  explanation,  and  a  sudden 
light  flashed  upon  him,  as  he  heard  the  estimated 
value  of  the  ring.  There  had  been  something  famil- 
iar in  the  appearance  of  the  adventurer,  though,  on 
account  of  his  successful  disguise  and  his  being  ac- 
companied by  a  lady,  he  had  not  before  felt  any 
suspicion  as  to  his  identity  with  the  man  w^ho  had 
swindled  him.  Now  he  felt  convinced  that  it  was 
Mr.  Felix  Montgomery,  and  that  it  was  his  own 
appearance  which  had  led  to  the  sudden  siclmess  and 
the  precipitate  departure. 

"  That  trick  won't  work,  Mr.  Montgomery,"  he 
said  to  himself.  "  I've  got  on  your  track  sooner  than 
I  anticipated,  and  I  mean  to  follow  you  up." 

Eeaching  the  sidewalk,  he  caught  sisrht  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Montgomery  just  turning  the  corner  of  a  side 
street.  The  pair  supposed  they  were  safe,  not  think- 
ing that  our  hero  had  recognized  them,  and  the  lady 


140  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

no  longer  exhibited  illness,  but  was  walking  briskly 
at  her  husband's  side.  Paul  hurried  up,  and  tapped 
the  adventurer  on  the  shoulder.  Mr.  Montgomery, 
turning,  was  annoyed  on  finding  that  he  had  not  yet 
escaped.  He  determined,  however,  to  stick  to  his 
false  character,  and  deny  all  knowledge  of  the  morn- 
ing's transaction. 

"  Well,  my  young  friend,"  he  said,  '^  do  you  want 
me?  I  believe  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of  your 
acquaintance." 

"  You  are  mistaken  there,  Mr.  ^Felix  Montgomery," 
said  Paul,  significantly. 

"By  what  name  did  jow  address  me?"  said  the 
swindler,  assuming  a  tone  of  surprise. 

"  I  addressed  you  as  Mr.  Felix  Montgomery." 

"  You  have  made  a  mistake,  my  good  friend.  I 
am  an  humble  clergyman  from  Connecticut.  I  am 
called  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barnes.  Should  you  ever  visit 
Hayfield  Centre,  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  a  call  from 
you." 

"  When  I  last  met  you,  you  were  a  jeweller  from 
3yracuse,"  said  Paul,  bluntly. 

Mr.  Montgomery  laughed  heartily. 

"My  dear,"  he  said,  turning  to  his  wife,  "is  not 
this  an  excellent  joke  ?  My  young  friend  here  thinks 
he  recognizes  in  me  a  jeweller  from  Syracuse." 

"  Indeed,  you  are  quite  mistaken,"  said  the  lady. 
"  My  husband  is  a  country  minister.  We  came  up 
to  the  city  this  morning  on  a  little  business." 

"  I  understand  on  what  business,"  said  Paul.  "  You 
wanted  to  dispose  of  a  diamond  ring." 

Mr.  Montgomery  was  disposed  to  deny  the  charge, 
but  a  moment's  reflection  convinced  him  that  it 
would  be  useless,  as  Paul  had  doubtless  been  in- 
formed in  Ball  &  Black's  of  his  business  there.  He 
decided  to  put  on  a  bold  front  and  admit  it. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     14J 

''  I  suppose  you  were  in  Ball  &  Black's  just  now/^ 
he  said. 

"  I  was." 

^^And  so  learned  my  business  there?  But  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  understand  why  you  should  be  interested 
in  the  matter.'' 

"  That  ring  is  mine,"  said  Paul.  ''  You  swindled 
me  out  of  it  this  morning." 

"  My  young  friend,  you  must  certainly  be  insane," 
said  Mr.  Montgomery,  shrugging  his  shoulders.  "  My 
dear,  did  you  hear  that  ?  " 

*'  He  is  an  impudent  boy,"  said  the  lady.  "  I  am 
surprised  that  you  should  be  willing  to  talk  to 
him." 

"  If  you  leave  here  I  will  put  a  policeman  on  your 
track,"  said  Paul. 

He  looked  so  determined  that  Mr.  Montgomery 
found  that  he  must  parley. 

"  You  are  under  a  strange  hallucination,  my  young 
friend,"  he  said.  "  If  you  will  walk  along  with  me, 
I  think  I  can  convince  you  of  your  mistake." 

"  There  is  no  mistake  about  the  matter,"  said  Paul, 
walking  on  with  them.  "  The  ring  is  mine,  and  I 
must  have  it." 

"  My  dear,  will  you  explain  about  the  ring  ?  He 
may  credit  your  testimony." 

"I  don't  see  that  any  explanation  is  necessary," 
said  the  lady.  "  However,  since  you  wish  it,  I  will 
say  that  the  ring  was  handed  you  by  Mrs.  Benton,  a 
wealthy  lady  of  your  parish,  with  instructions  to  sell 
it;  and  devote  the  proceeds  to  charitable  purposes." 

'^  Is  that  explanation  satisfactory  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Montgomery. 

"N"o,  it  is  not,"  said  Paul,  resolutely.  "I  don't 
believe  one  word  of  it.  I  recognize  you  in  spite  of 
your  dress.    You  gave  me  chloroform  this  morning  in 


142  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

a  room  in  Lovejoy's  Hotel,  and  when  I  was  "uncon- 
scious you  made  off  with  the  ring  which  I  expected  to 
sell  you.  You  had  better  return  it,  or  I  will  call  a 
policeman." 

"  I  am  not  the  person  you  take  me  for,"  said  Felix 
Montgomery. 

"  You  are  the  jeweller  from  S3Tacuse  who  swindled 
me  out  of  my  ring." 

"  I  never  was  a  jeweller,  and  never  lived  in  Syra- 
cuse," said  the  adventurer,  with  entire  truth. 

"  You  may  be  right,  but  that  is  what  you  told  me 
this  morning." 

"  I  wish  3'ou  would  go  away,  and  cease  to  annoy 
us,"  said  the  lady,  impatiently. 

"  I  want  my  ring." 

"  We  have  no  ring  of  yours." 

"  Show  me  the  ring,  and  if  it  is  not  mine  I  will  go 
away." 

"  You  are  a  very  impudent  fellow,  upon  my  word," 
said  Mrs.  Montgomery,  sharply,  "  to  accuse  a  gentle- 
man like  my  husband  of  taking  your  ring.  I  don't 
believe  j^ou  ever  had  one." 

"  My  dear,"  interposed  her  husband,  mildly,  "  I 
dare  say  my  young  friend  here  really  thinks  we  have 
his  ring.  Of  course  it  is  a  great  mistake.  Imagine 
what  our  friends  in  Hayfield  Centre  would  think  of 
such  a  charge!  But  you  must  remember  that  he  is 
unacquainted  with  my  standing  in  the  community. 
In  order  to  satisfy  his  mind,  I  am  willing  to  let  him 
see  the  ring." 

"  To  let  him  see  the  ring  ?  "  repeated  the  lady,  in 
surprise. 

"  Yes.  Here,  my  lad,"  taking  the  ring  from  his 
pocket,  "  this  is  the  ring.  You  will  see  at  once  that 
it  is  not  yours." 

*'l  see  that  it  is  mine,"  said  Paul,  taking  the 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT,    I43 

proffered  ring,  and  preparing  to  go,  astonished  at  his 
own  good  fortune  in  so  easily  recovering  it. 

"  Not  so  fast !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Montgomer}^,  seiz- 
ing him  by  the  shoulder.    "  Help  !    Police !  " 

An  officer  had  turned  the  corner  just  before,  and  it 
was  this  that  had  suggested  the  trap.  He  came  up 
quickly,  and  looking  keenly  from  one  to  the  other, 
inquired  what  was  the  matter. 

"  This  boy  has  just  purloined  a  ring  from  my 
wife,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery.  "  Fortunately  I  caught 
him  in  the  act." 

"  Give  up  the  ring,  you  young  scoundrel !  "  said  the 
officer,  imposed  upon  by  the  clerical  appearance  of 
the  adventurer. 

"  It  is  mine,"  said  Paul. 

"  None  of  your  gammon !  Give  up  the  ring,  and 
come  with  me." 

The  ring  was  restored  to  Mr.  Montgomery,  who 
overwhelmed  the  officer  with  a  profusion  of 
thanks. 

"  It  is  not  a  diamond,  only  an  imitation,"  he  said ; 
"  but  my  wife  values  it  as  the  gift  of  a  friend.  Don't 
be  too  hard  on  the  boy.  He  may  not  be  so  bad  as 
he  seems." 

"  I'll  attend  to  him,"  said  the  policeman,  emphat- 
ically. "  I'll  learn  him  to  rob  ladies  of  rings  in  the 
street.     Come  along,  sir !  " 

Paul  tried  to  explain  matters,  but  no  attention  was 
paid  lO  his  protestations.  To  his  anger  and  mortifica- 
tion he  saw  the  swindler  make  off  triumphantly  with 
the  rins:,  while  he,  the  wronged  owner,  was  arrested 
as  a  thief. 

But  at  the  station-house  he  had  his  revenge.  He 
was  able  to  prove  to  his  captor  that  he  had  lodged 
information  against  Mr.  Montgomery,  and  the  police- 
man in  turn  was  mortified  to  think  how  readily  he 


144  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

had  been  imposed  upon.  Of  course  Paul  was  set 
free,  but  the  officer's  blundering  interference  seemed 
to  render  the  recovery  of  the  ring  more  doubtful  than 
ever. 


CHAPTER  XXIL 

A  MAN  OF  RESOURCES. 

^^  Well,  that  was  a  narrow  escape,"  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, with  a  sigh  of  relief.  "  I  think  I  managed 
rather  cleverly,  eh  ?  " 

"  I  wanted  to  box  the  boy's  ears,"  said  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery, sharply. 

"  It  wouldn't  have  been  in  character,  my  dear. 
Ha,  ha ! "  he  laughed  softly,  "  we  imposed  upon  the 
officer  neatly.  Our  young  friend  got  rather  the  worst 
of  it." 

"Why  don't  you  call  things  by  their  right  names? 
He  isn't  much  of  a  friend." 

'^  Names  are  of  no  consequence,  my  dear." 

"  Well,  what  are  you  going  to  do  next  ?  "  asked  the 
ladv,  abruptlv. 

"About  the  ring?'' 

"  Of  course." 

"I  hardly  know,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery,  reflect- 
ively. "If  it  were  not  for  appearing  too  anxious,  I 
would  go  back  to  Ball  &  Black's,  now  that  our  young 
friend  is  otherwise  engaged,  and  can't  interrupt  us." 

"  Suppose  we  go  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  see,  it  might  be  considered  rather  soon 
for  you  to  recover  from  your  fit.  Besides,  I  don't 
know  what  stories  this  boy  may  have  thought  fit  to  tell 
about  us." 


,      ADVENTURES  OP  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     I45 

"  He  didn't  have  time  to  say  anything.'' 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right." 

"  We  want  to  dispose  of  the  ring  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, and  leave  the  city." 

"  That  is  true.  Well,  if  you  say  so,  we  will  go 
back." 

"  It  seems  to  me  now  is  the  best  time.  The  boy 
will  tell  his  story  to  the  officer,  and  we  may  be  in- 
quired for." 

"  Then,  my  dear,  I  will  follow  your  advice." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Montgomery  turned,  and  directed 
their  steps  again  towards  Broadway.  The  distance 
was  short,  and  fifteen  minutes  had  scarcely  elapsed 
since  they  left  the  store  before  they  again  entered  it. 
They  made  their  way  to  the  lower  end  of  the  store 
and  accosted  the  same  clerk  with  whom  they  had 
before  spoken. 

"  Is  your  wife  better  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Much  better,  thank  you.  A  turn  in  the  air  al- 
ways relieves  her,  and  she  is  quite  herself  again.  I 
have  returned,  because  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  leave 
the  city  by  the  evening  train,  and  my  time  is,  there- 
fore, short.  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  show  the 
ring  to  your  employer,  and  ask  him  if  he  will  pur- 
chase ?  " 

The  clerk  returned,  and  said  that  the  firm  would 
pay  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  but  must  be  as- 
sured of  his  risfht  to  dispose  of  it. 

"  Did  you  mention  my  name  ?  "  asked  the  adven- 
turer. 

"  I  mentioned  that  3'ou  were  a  clerg}'man.  I  could 
not  remember  the  name." 

"  The  Eev.  Mr.  Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Centre,  Con- 
necticut. I  have  been  preaching  there  for — is  it  six 
or  seven  years,  my  dear  ?  " 

"  Seven,"  said  his  wife. 


146  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OH, 

"  I  should  think  that  would  be  sufficient.  You 
may  mention  that  to  Mr.  Ball  or  Mr.  Black  if  you 
please.  I  presume  after  that  he  will  not  be  afraid  to 
purchase." 

Mr.  Montgomery  said  this  with  an  air  of  conscious 
respectability  and  high  standing,  which  might  readily 
impose  upon  strangers.  But,  by  bad  luck,  what  he 
had  said  was  heard  by  a  person  able  to  confute  him. 

"Did  you  say  you  were  from  Hayfield  Centre?^' 
asked  a  gentleman  standing  a  few  feet  distant 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery. 

"  I  think  you  said  your  name  was  Barnes  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  that  you  had  been  preaching  there  for  the 
last  seven  years  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Mr.  Montgomery,  but  there 
was  rather  less  confidence  in  his  tone.  In  fact  he 
was  beginning  to  feel  uneasy. 

"  It  is  very  strange,"  said  the  other.  "  I  have  a 
sister  living  in  Hayfield  Centre,  and  frequently  visit 
the  place  myself,  and  so  of  course  know  something  of 
it.  Yet  I  have  never  heard  of  any  clergyman  named 
Barnes  preaching  there." 

Mr.  Montgomery  saw  that  things  looked  critical. 

"  You  are  strangely  mistaken,  sir,"  he  said.  "  How- 
ever, I  will  not  press  the  sale.  If  you  will  return  the 
ring  (to  the  clerk)  I  will  dispose  of  it  elsewhere." 

But  the  clerk's  suspicions  had  been  aroused  by  what 
had  been  said. 

"  I  will  first  speak  to  Mr.  Ball,"  he  said. 

"  There  is  no  occasion  to  speak  to  him.  I  shall 
not  sell  the  ring  to-day.  To-morrow  I  will  come  with 
witnesses  whose  testimony  will  outweigh  that  of  this 
gentleman,  who  I  suspect  never  was  in  Hayfield  Cen- 
tre in  his  life.    I  will  trouble  you  for  the  ring." 

*'  I  hope  you  don't  intend  to  give  it  to  him,"  said 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.  147 

the  gentleman.  "  The  presumption  is,  that,  as  he  is 
masquerading,  he  has  not  come  by  it  honestly.^^ 

"  I  shall  not  deign  to  notice  your  insinuations/' 
said  Mr.  Montgomery,  who  concealed  beneath  a  con- 
sequential tone  his  real  uneasiness.  "  The  ring,  if 
you  please." 

"  Don't  give  it  to  him.'' 

As  the  clerk  seemed  disinclined  to  surrender  the 
ring,  Mr.  Montgomery  said : — 

"  Young  man,  you  will  find  it  to  be  a  serious  mat- 
ter to  withhold  my  property." 

"  Perhaps  I  had  better  give  it  to  him,"  said  the 
clerk,  imposed  upon  by  the  adventurer's  manner. 

"  Eequire  him  to  prove  property.  If  it  is  really 
his,  he  can  readily  do  this." 

"My  dear,"  said  the  Eev.  Mr.  Barnes,  "we  will 
leave  the  store." 

"  ^\Tiat,  and  leave  the  ring  ?  " 

"  For  the  present.  I  will  invoke  the  aid  of  the 
police  to  save  me  from  being  robbed  in  this  extraor- 
dinary manner." 

He  walked  to  the  street  door,  accompanied  by  his 
wife.  He  was  deeply  disappointed  at  the  failure  of 
the  sale,  and  would  gladly  have  wreaked  vengeance 
upon  the  stranger  who  had  prevented  it.  But  he  saw 
that  his  safety  required  an  immediate  retreat.  In 
addition  to  his  own  disappointment  he  had  to  bear  his 
wife's  censure. 

"If  you  had  the  spirit  of  a  man,  Mr.  Montgom- 
ery," she  commenced,  "you  wouldn't  have  given  up 
that  ring  so  easily.  He  had  no  business  to  keep 
it." 

"  I  would  have  called  in  a  policeman,  if  I  dared, 
but  you  know  I  am  not  on  the  best  of  terms  with 
these  gentlemen." 

"  Are  we  to  lose  the  ring  then  ?  '* 


i48  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OB, 

"  I  am  afraid  so,  unless  I  can  make  them  believe  in 
the  store  that  I  am  really  what  I  pretend  to  he." 

"Can't  you  do  it?" 

"  Not  very  easily  unless — stay,  I  have  an  idea.  Do 
you  see  that  young  man  ?  " 

He  directed  his  wife's  attention  to  a  young  man, 
evidently  fresh  from  the  country,  who  was  approach- 
ing, staring  open-eyed  at  the  unwonted  sights  of  the 
city.  He  was  dressed  in  a  blue  coat  with  brass  but- 
tons, while  his  pantaloons,  of  a  check  pattern,  termi- 
nated rather  higher  up  than  was  in  accordance  with 
the  fashion. 

"  Yes,  I  see  him,"  said  Mrs.  Montgomery.  "  What 
of  him?" 

"  I  am  going  to  recover  the  ring  through  his  help." 

"  I  don't  see  how." 

"  You  will  see." 

"  How  do  you  do  ?  "  said  the  adventurer,  cordially, 
advancing  to  the  young  man,  and  seizing  his  hand. 

"  Pretty  smart,"  said  the  countryman,  looking  sur- 
prised. 

"  Are  your  parents  quite  well  ?  " 

"  They're  so's  to  be  around." 

"  When  did  vou  come  to  the  city." 

"  This  momin'." 

"  Do  you  stay  any  length  of  time  ?  " 

"  I'm  goin'  back  this  afternoon." 

"You  didn't  expect  to  meet  me  now,  did  you?" 
asked  Mr.  Montgomery. 

"  I  s'pose  I'd  orter  know  you,"  said  the  perplexed 
youth,  "  but  I  can't  think  what  your  name  is." 

"  What !  jSTot  know  Mr.  Barnes,  the  minister  of 
Hayfield  Centre!  Don't  you  remember  hearing  me 
preach  for  your  minister  ?  " 

"  Seems  to  me  I  do,"  answered  ttie  young  man, 
persuading  himself  that  he  ought  to  remember. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    I49 

"Of  course  you  do.  Now,  my  young  friend,  I  am 
very  glad  to  have  met  you/' 

"  So  am  I,"  said  the  other  awkwardly. 
"  You  can  do  me  a  favor  if  you  will." 
"  Of  course  I  will,"  said  Jonathan.     "  If  it's  any 
thing  I  can  do." 

"  Yes,  you  will  have  no  trouble  about  it.  You  see 
I  went  into  a  jeweller's  near  by,  to  sell  a  valuable 
ring,  and  they  wanted  to  make  sure  I  was  really  a 
minister,  and  not  intending  to  cheat  them.  If  you 
will  go  in  with  me,  and  say  that  you  have  often  heard 
me  preach,  and  that  I  am  the  Eev.  Mr.  Barnes,  of 
Hayfield  Centre,  I  won't  mind  paying  you  five  dollars 
for  your  trouble." 

"  All  right ;  I'll  do  it,"  said  the  rustic,  considering 
that  it  would  be  an  unusually  easy  way  of  earning 
five  dollars. 

"  You'll  remember  the  name,  won't  you  ?  " 
"  Yes.    Parson  Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Centre." 
"  That's  right.    The  store  is  near  by.    Walk  along 
with  us,  and  we  will  be  there  in  five  minutes." 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

A  NEW  EXPEDIENT. 

-"1  BELIEVE  your  name  is  Peck,"  said  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, hazarding  a  guess. 

"  No,  it's  Young. — Ephraim  Young." 

"  Of  course  it  is.  I  remember  now,  but  I  am  very 
apt  to  forget  names.  You  said  your  parents  were 
quite  well  ?  " 

"  Yes,  the/re  pretty  smart." 


150  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it ;  I  have  the  pleasantest 
Tecollections  of  your  excellent  father.  Let  me  see, 
didn't  you  call  there  with  me  once,  Mrs.  Barnes  ?  " 

"  Not  that  I  remember." 

"  You  must  go  with  me  the  next  time.  I  want  you 
to  know  the  parents  of  our  young  friend.  They  are 
excellent  people.  Do  you  go  back  this  afternoon, 
Mr.  Young?'' 

"  Yes,  I  guess  so.  You  don't  know  of  any  sitoo- 
ation  I  could  get  in  a  store  round  here,  do 
you?" 

"  Not  at  present,  but  I  have  some  influential 
friends,  to  whom  I  will  mention  your  name.  Suppose 
now  I  could  obtain  a  situation  for  you,  how  shall  I 
direct  the  letter  letting  you  know  ?  " 

"  Just  put  on  the  letter  '  Ephraim  Young.'  Every- 
body in  Plainfield  knows  me." 

"  So  he  lives  in  Plainfield,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery 
to  himself.  "It's  as  well  to  know  that."  Then 
aloud,  "  I  won't  forget,  ^Ir.  Young.  What  sort  of 
a  business  would  you  prefer?" 

"  Any  kind  that'll  pay,"  said  the  gratified  youth^ 
firmly  convinced  of  his  companion's  ability  to  fulfill 
his  promise.  "  I've  got  tired  of  stayin'  round  home, 
and  I'd  like  to  try  York  a  little  while.  Folks  say  it's 
easy  to  make  money  here." 

"  You  are  right.  If  I  were  a  business  man,  I 
would  come  to  New  York  at  once.  For  a  smart 
young  man  like  you,  it  offers  a  much  better  opening 
than  a  country  village." 

"  That's  what  I've  told  dad  often,"  said  the  rustic, 
"  but  he's  afraid  I  wouldn't  get  nothing  to  do,  and  he 
says  it's  dreadful  expensive  livin'  here." 

"  So  it  is  expensive,  but  then  you  will  be  better 
paid  than  in  the  country.  However,  here  we  are. 
You  won't  forget  what  I  told  you  ?  " 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     151 

"  No,  I'll  remember,"  said  the  young  man. 

The  reappearance  of  Mr.  Barnes  and  wife  so  soon 
excited  some  surprise  in  the  store,  for  it  had  got 
around,  as  such  things  will,  that  he  was  an  impostor, 
and  it  was  supposed  that  he  would  not  venture  to 
show  his  face  there  again.  The  appearance  of  his 
rustic  companion  likewise  attracted  attention.  Cer- 
tainly Mr.  Montgomery  (it  makes  little  difference 
what  we  call  him)  did  not  exhibit  the  slightest  ap- 
pearance of  apprehension,  but  his  manner  was  quite 
cool  and  self-possessed.  He  made  his  way  to  that 
part  of  the  counter  attended  by  the  clerk  with  whom 
he  had  before  spoken.  He  observed  with  pleasure  and 
relief  that  the  man  who  had  questioned  his  identity 
with  any  of  the  ministers  of  Hayfield  Centre  was  no 
longer  in  the  store.  This  would  make  the  recovery  of 
the  ring  considerably  easier. 

"  Well,  sir,"  he  said,  addressins^  the  clerk,  "  I  sup- 
pose you  did  not  expect  to  see  me  again  so  soon  ?  " 

''  No,  sir." 

"  Nor  did  I  expect  to  be  able  to  return  for  the  ring 
before  to-morrow,  not  supposing  that  I  could  bring 
witnesses  to  prove  that  I  was  what  I  represented. 
But  fortunately  I  met  just  now  a  young  friend,  who 
can  testify  to  my  identity,  as  he  has  heard  me  preach 
frequently  in  Plainfield,  where  he  resides.  Mr. 
Young,  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  tell  this  gentle- 
man who  I  am  ?  " 

"  Parson  Barnes,  of  Hayfield  Centre,"  said  the 
3^outh,  confidently. 

"  You  have  heard  me  preach,  have  you  not,  in 
Plainfield  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  young  man,  fully  believing  that  he 
was  telling  the  truth. 

"  And  r  have  called  on  your  parents  ?  ^ 

"  Yes." 


152  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  I  think,"  said  the  adventurer,  "  that  will  be  suffi- 
cient to  convince  you  that  I  am  what  I  ap- 
pear." 

It  was  hard  to  doubt  in  .the  face  of  such  evidence. 
Ephraim  Young  was  so  unmistakably  from  the  rural 
districts  that  it  would  have  been  absurd  to  suspect 
him  of  being  an  artful  city  rogue.  Besides,  Mr. 
Barnes  himself  was  got  up  so  naturally  that  all  the 
clerk's  doubts  vanished  at  once.  He  concluded  that 
the  customer  who  had  questioned  his  genuineness 
must  be  very  much  mistaken. 

"  I  ought  to  apologize  to  you,  sir,"  he  said,  "  for 
doubting  your  word.  But  in  a  city  like  this  you 
know  one  has  to  be  very  careful." 

"  Of  course,"  said  the  adventurer,  blandly,  "  I  do 
not  blame  you  in  the  least.  You  only  did  your  duty, 
though  it  might  have  cost  me  some  trouble  and 
inconvenience." 

"  I  am  sorry  sir." 

"  No  apologies,  I  beg.  If  has  all  turned  out  right, 
and  your  mistake  was  a  natural  one.  If  you  will 
kindly  return  me  the  ring,  I  will  defer  selling  it,  I 
think,  till  another  day." 

The  clerk  brought  the  ring,  which  he  handed  back 
to  Mr.  Montgomery.  The  latter  received  it  with  so 
much  the  more  satisfaction,  as  he  had  made  up  his 
mind  at  one  time  that  it  was  gone  irrevocably,  and 
put  it  away  in  his  waistcoat-pocket. 

"  I  had  intended  to  buy  some  silver  spoons,"  he 
eaid,  "  but  it  will  be  necessary  to  wait  until  I  have 
disposed  of  the  ring.  However,  I  may  as  well  look 
at  some,  eh,  Mrs.  Barnes  ?  " 

"  If  you  like,"  assented  the  lady. 

So  the  pair  examined  some  spoons,  and  fixed  upon 
a  dozen,  which  they  said  they  would  return  and  buy 
on  the  next  day,  and  then  with  a  polite  good-by  went 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     153 

out  of  the  store,  leaving  behind,  on  the  whole,  a  favor- 
able impression. 

Ephraim  Young  accompanied  them  out,  and 
walked  along  beside  theni.  in  the  street.  He,  too, 
was  in  good  spirits,  for  had  not  his  companion  prom- 
ised him  five  dollars  for  his  services,  which  he  had 
faithfully  rendered  ?  Five  dollars  to  the  young  man 
from  the  rural  districts  was  a  very  considerable  sum 
of  money, — quite  a  nugget,  in  fact, — and  he  already 
enjoyed  in  advance  the  pleasure  which  he  anticipated 
of  telling  his  friends  at  home  how  easily  he  had 
earned  such  a  sum  in  "  York."  He  walked  along 
beside  the  adventurer,  expecting  that  he  would  say 
something  about  paying  him,  l3ut  no  allusion  was 
made  by  the  adventurer  to  his  promise.  Indeed,  five 
dollars  was  considerably  more  than  he  had  in  his 
possession.  When  they  reached  Amity  Street,  for 
they  were  now  proceeding  up  Broadway,  he  sought 
to  shake  off  the  young  man,  whose  company  he  no 
longer  desired. 

"  This  is  our  way,"  he  said.  "  I  suppose  you  are 
going  further.  I  am  very  glad  to  have  met  you,  Mr. 
Young.  I  hope  you  will  give  our  regards  to  your 
excellent  parents ;  "  and  he  held  out  his  hand  in  token 
of  farewell. 

"Ain't  you  goin'  to  pay  me  that  money?"  said 
Ephraim,  bluntly,  becoming  alarmed  at  the  prospect 
of  losing  the  nugget  he  had  counted  on  with  so  much 
confidence. 

"  Bless  me,  I  came  near  forgetting  it  1  I  hope  yon 
will  excuse  me,"  and  to  Ephraim's  delight  he  drew 
out  his  pocket-book.  But  the  prospect  of  pay- 
ment was  not  so  bright  as  the  young  man  sup- 
posed. 

^'  I  don't  think  I  have  a  five-dollar  bill,"  said  Mr. 
Ilontgomeiy,  after  an  examination  of  the  pocket- 


154  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

book.  "  Mis.  Montgomery,  do  you  happen  to  have  a 
five  with  you  ?  " 

"  No,  I  haven't,"  said  the  lady,  promptly.  ^^  I 
spent  all  my  money  shopping  this  morning." 

"  That  is  unfortunate.  Our  young  friend  has  ren- 
dered us  suc-h  a  service  I  don't  like  to  make  him  wait 
for  his  money." 

Ephraim  Young  looked  rather  blank  at  this  sug- 
gestion. 

"  Let  me  see,  I  have  a  hundred-dollar  bill  here," 
said  Mr.  Montgomery.  "  I  will  go  into  the  next  store, 
and  see  if  I  can't  get  it  changed.  Mr.  Young,  will 
you  be  kind  enough  to  remain  with  my  wife  ?  " 

"  Certain,"  said  Ephraim,  brightening  up. 

j\[r.  ^lontgomery  went  into  a  shop  near  by,  but 
made  no  request  to  have  a  hundred-dollar  bill 
changed.  He  was  rather  afraid  that  they  might  com- 
ply with  his  request,  which  would  have  subjected  him 
to  some  embarrassment.  He  merely  inquired  if  he 
could  use  a  pen  for  a  moment;  a  request  which  was 
readily  granted.  In  less  than  five  minutes  he 
emerged  into  the  street  again.  Ephraim  Young 
looked  towards  him  eagerly. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,  my  j^oung  friend,"  he  re- 
marked, "that  I  was  unable  to  get  my  bfU  changed. 
I  might  get  it  changed  at  a  bank,  but  the  banks  are 
all  closed  at  this  hour." 

The  countryman  looked  disturbed. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  continued  Mr.  Montgomery,  "  I 
must  wait  and  send  you  the  money  in  a  letter  from 
HayfieJd  Centre." 

"  I'd  ratlier  have  it  now,"  said  Ephraim. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  disa]3point  .you,"  said  the  adven- 
turer, smoothly ;  "  but  after  all  you  will  only  have  a 
day  or  two  to  wait.  To  make  up  to  you  for  the  delay 
I  have  decided  to  send  you  ten  dollars  instead  of 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    \  S5 

five.    Finding  I  could  not  change  my  bill,  I  wrote  a 
niote  for  the  amount,  which  I  will  hand  you/' 

Ephraim  received  the  paper,  which  the  other 
handed  him,  and  read  as  follows : — 

"  New  York,  Sept.  15,  18—. 
'^  Three   days   from   date   I   promise   to   pay   Mr. 
Ephraim  Young  ten  dollars. 

"  JoTHAM  Barnes, 

"  Of  Hayfield  Centre." 

^  How  will  that  do  ?  "  asked  the  adventurer.  "  By 
waiting  three  da3^s  you  double  your  money." 

"  You'll  be  sure  to  send  it,"  said  Ephraim,  doubt- 
fully. 

"  My  young  friend,  I  hope  you  do  not  doubt  me," 
said  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barnes,  impressively. 

"  I  guess  it's  all  right,"  said  Ephraim,  "  only  I 
thought  I  might  like  to  spend  the  money  in  the 
city." 

"Much  better  save  it  up,"  said  the  other.  "By 
and  by  it  may  come  in  use." 

Ephraim  carefully  folded  up  the  note,  and  depos- 
ited it  in  an  immense  wallet,  the  gift  of  his  father. 
He  would  have  preferred  the  money  which  it  repre- 
sented; but  three  days  would  soon  pass,  and  the  ten 
dollars  would  be  forwarded  to  him.  He  took  leave 
of  his  new  acquaintances,  Mr.  Montgomery  shaking 
his  hand  with  aifectionate  warmth,  and  requesting 
him  to  give  his  best  respects  to  his  parents.  Wlien 
Ephraim  was  out  of  sight,  he  turned  to  his  wife,  with 
a  humorous  twinkle  in  his  eye,  and  said : — 

"  Wasn't  that  cleverly  done,  old  lady  ?  " 

"  Good  enough  !  "  remarked  the  lady.  "  IN'ow 
you've  got  the  ring  back  again,  what  are  you  going 
to  do  with  it?" 


156  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

'^  That,  my  dear,  is  a  subject  which  requires  the 
maturest  consideration.  I  shall  endeavor  to  convert 
it  as  soon  as  possible  into  the  largest  possible  sum  in 
greenbacks.  Otherwise  I  am  afraid  our  board  bill, 
and  the  note  I  have  just  given  to  my  rural  friend, 
will  remain  unpaid." 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

MR.  MONTGOMERY'S  ARREST. 

Having  shaken  off  his  country  acquaintance,  of 
whom  he  had  no  further  need,  Mr.  Montgomery 
started  to  return  to  his  lodgings.  On  the  whole,  he 
was  in  good  spirits,  though  he  had  not  effected  the 
sale  of  the  ring.  But  it  was  still  in  his  possession, 
and  it  had  a  tangible  value. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  did  not  sell  the  ring,"  said  Mrs. 
Montgomery. 

"  So  am  I,"  said  her  husband.  "  We  may  have  to 
ell  it  in  some  other  city." 

"  We  can't  leave  the  city  without  money." 

"  That^s  true,"  returned  her  husband,  rather  taken 
aback  by  what  was  undeniably  true. 

**  We  must  sell  the  ring,  or  raise  money  on  it,  in 
New  York." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right,  i'he  trouble  is, 
there  are  not  many  places  where  they  vtdll  buy  so 
expensive  an  article.  Besides,  they  will  be  apt  to  ask 
impertinent  questions." 

"  You  might  go  to  a  pawnbroker's." 

''  And  get  fleeced.  If  I  got  a  quarter  of  the  yalue 
from  a  pawnbroker^  I  should  be  lucky." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     I57 

"  We  must  do  .something  with  it,"  said  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery, decidedly. 

"  Eight,  my  dear.  We  must  get  the  sinews  of  war 
somewhere.  Eichard  will  never  be  himself  again  till 
his  pocket-book  is  lined  with  greenbacks.  At  pres- 
ent, who  steals  my  purse  steals  trash." 

"  Suppose  you  try  Tiffany's  ?  " 

"  The  ring  has  already  been  offered  there.  They 
might  remember  it." 

"If  they  do,  say  that  he  is  your  son." 

"  A  good  thought,"  answered  the  husband.  "  I 
will  act  upon  it.  But,  on  the  whole,  I'll  doff  this  dis- 
guise, and  assume  my  ordinary  garments.  This  time, 
m}^  dear,  I  shall  not  need  your  assistance." 

"  Well,  the  sooner  it's  done  the  better.  That's  all 
I  have  to  say." 

"As  soon  as  possible." 

Mr.  Montgomery  returned  to  his  lod.snings  in  Amity 
Street,  and,  taking  off  his  clerical  garb,  appeared  in 
the  garb  in  which  we  first  made  his  acquaintance. 
The  change  was  very  speedily  effected. 

"  Wish  me  good  luck,  Mrs.  M.,"  he  said,  as  he 
opened  the  door.  "  I  am  going  to  make  another 
attempt." 

"  Good  luck  to  you,  Tony !    Come  back  soon." 

"  As  soon  as  my  business  is  completed.  If  I  get 
the  money,  we  will  leave  for  Philadelphia  this  even- 
ing.    You  may  as  well  be  packing  up." 

"  I  am  afraid  the  landlady  won't  let  us  carry  away 
our  baggage  unless  we  pay  our  bill." 

"  Never  mind !  Pack  it  up,  and  we'll  run  our 
chance." 

Felix  Montgomery  left  the  house  with  the  ring 
carefully  deposited  in  his  vest-pocket.  To  judge  from 
his  air  of  easy  indifference,  he  might  readily  have 
been  taken  for  a  substantial  citizen  in  excellent  cir- 


158  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

cumstances ;  but  then  appearances  are  oftentimes  de- 
ceitful, and  they  were  especially  so  in  the  present 
instance. 

He  made  his  way  quickly  to  Broadway,  and  thence 
to  Tiffany's,  at  that  time  not  so  far  up  town  as  at 
present.  He  entered  the  store  with  a  nonchalant  air, 
and  advancing  to  the  counter  accosted  the  same  clerk 
to  whom  Paul  had  shown  the  ring  earlier  in  the 
day. 

"  I  have  a  valuable  ring  which  I  would  like  to 
sell,"  he  said.     "Will  you  \ell  me  its  value?'' 

The  clerk  no  sooner  took  it  in  his  hand  than  he 
recognized  it. 

"I  have  seen  that  ring  before,"  he  said,  looking  at 
Mr.  Montgomery  keenly. 

"  Yes."  said  the  latter,  composedly;  "  this  morning, 
wasn't  it?" 

"  Yes." 

"  My  boy  brought  it  in  here.  I  ought  not  to  have 
sent  him,  for  he  came  very  near  losing  it  on  the  way 
home.  I  thought  it  best  to  come  with  it  my- 
self." 

This  was  said  so  quietly  that  it  was  hard  to  doubt 
the  statement,  or  would  have  been  if  information  had 
not  been  brought  to  the  store  that  the  ring  had  been 
stolen. 

"  Yes,  boys  are  careless,"  assented  the  clerk,  not 
caring  to  arouse  Mr.  Montgomery's  suspicions.  "  Yon 
wish  to  sell  the  ring,  T  suppose." 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  other,  "  I  don't  like  to  carry 
a  ring  of  so  great  value.  Several  times  I  have  come 
near  having  it  stolen.     Will  you  buy  it?" 

"  I  am  not  authorized  to  make  the  purchase,"  said 
the  clerk.  "I  will  refer  the  matter  to  Mr. 
Tiffany.'^ 

"  Very  well,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery.     "  I  am  will- 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     159 

ing  to  accept  whatever  he  may  pronounce  a  fair 
price/' 

"  No  doubt/'  thought  the  clerk. 

He  carried  the  ring  to  his  employer,  and  quickly 
explained  the  circumstances. 

"  The  man  is  doubtless  a  thief.  He  must  be  ar- 
rested," said  the  jeweller. 

"  If  I  go  for  an  officer,  he  will  take  alarm." 

"Invite  him  to  come  into  the  back  part  of  the 
"hop,  and  I  will  protract  the  negotiation  while  you 
summon  a  policeman." 

The  clerk  returned,  and  at  his  invitation  Mr. 
Montgomery  walked  to  the  lower  end  of  the  store, 
where  he  was  introduced  to  the  head  of  the  establish- 
ment.   Sharp  though  he  was,  he  suspected  no  plot. 

"  You  are  the  owner  of  this  ring  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Tiffany. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  adventurer.  "  It  has  been  in 
our  family  for  a  long  time." 

"  But  you  wish  to  sell  it  now  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  have  come  near  losing  it  several  times, 
and  prefer  to  dispose  of  it.     What  is  its  value  ?  " 

"  That  requires  some  consideration.  I  will  ex- 
amine it  closely." 

Mr.  Montgomery  stood  with  his  back  to  the  en- 
trance, waiting  patiently,  while  the  jeweller  ap- 
peared to  be  engaged  in  a  close  examination  of  the 
ring.  He  congratulated  himself  that  no  questions 
had  been  asked  which  it  might  have  been  difficult  for 
him  to  answer.  He  made  up  his  mind  that  after  due 
examination  Mr.  Tiffany  would  make  an  offer,  which 
he  determined  in  advance  to  accept,  whatever  it 
might  be,  since  he  w^ould  consider  himself  fortunate 
to  dispose  of  it  at  even  two-thirds  of  its  value. 

Meanwhile  the  clerk  quietly  slipped  out  of  the 
store,  and  at  a  short  distance  encountered  a  police- 


160  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

man,  upon  whom  he  called  for  assistance.  At  the 
same  momerit  Paul  and  Mr.  Preston  came  np.  Our 
hero,  on  being  released  from  arrest,  had  sought  Mr. 
Preston,  and  the  latter  obligingly  agreed  to  go  with 
him  to  Tiffany's,  and  certify  to  his  honesty,  that,  if 
the  ring  should  be  brought  there,  it  might  be  retained 
for  him.  Paul  did  not  recognize  the  clerk,  but  the 
latter  at  once  remembered  him. 

"  Are  you  not  the  boy  that  brought  a  diamood 
ring  into  our  store  this  morning?  "  he  asked. 

"IntoTiffan/s?'' 

''  Yes.'^' ' 

"  Have  you  seen  anything  of  it  ?  "  asked  our  hero, 
eagerly.    "  I  am  the  one  who  brought  it  in." 

"  A  man  just  brought  it  into  the  store,"  said  the 
clerk. 

"  Is  he  there  now  ?  " 

"  He  is  talking  with  Mr.  Tiffany.  I  came  out  for 
a  policeman.     He  will  be  arrested  at  once." 

"  Good  !  "  ejaculated  Paul ;  "  I  am  in  luck.  I 
thought  I  should  never  see  the  ring  again.  What 
sort  of  a  man  is  it  ?  " 

J'rom  the  description,  Paul  judged  that  it  was  Felix 
Montgomery  himself,  and,  remembering  what  a  trick 
th'C  adventurer  had  played  upon  him  at  Lovejoy's 
Kotel,  he  felt  no  little  satisfaction  in  the  thought  that 
the  trapper  was  himself  trapped  at  last. 

"  I'll  go  along  with  you,"  he  said.  "  I  want  to 
tee  that  man  arrested." 

"  You  had  better  stay  outside  just  at  first,  until 
we  have  secured  him." 

Meanwhile  ^Ir.  Tiffany,  after  a  prolonged  examin- 
action,  said,  "  The  ring  is  worth  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars." 

"  That  will  be  satisfactory,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery, 
promptly. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     161 

"  Shall  I  give  you  a  cheque  for  the  amount  ?  ^ 
asked  the  jeweller. 

"  I  should  prefer  the  money,  as  I  am  a  stranger  in 
the  city,  and  not  known  at  the  banks." 

*'  I  can  make  the  cheque  payable  to  bearer,  and 
then  you  will  have  no  difficulty  in  getting  it  cashed." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  the  clerk 
entered  the  store  with  the  policeman,  but  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery's back  was  turned,  and  he  was  not  aware  of 
the  fact,  till  the  officer  tapped  him  on  the  shoulder, 
saying,  "  You  are  my  prisoner." 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?  There  is  some  mistake," 
said  the  adventurer,  wheeling  round  with  a  start. 

"  No  mistake  at  all.    You  must  come  with  me." 

"  What  have  I  done  ?  You  take  me  for  some  one 
else." 

"  You  have  stolen  a  diamond  ring." 

"  Who  says  so  ?  "  demanded  the  adventurer  boldly. 
"  It  is  true  I  brought  one  here  to  sell,  but  it  has 
belonged  to  me  for  years." 

"You  are  mistaken,  Mr.  Montgomery,"  said -Paul, 
who  had  come  up  unperceived.  "  You  stole  that  ring 
from  me  this  morning,  after  dosing  me  with  chloro- 
form at  Lovejoy's  Hotel." 

"  It  is  a  lie,"  said  the  adventurer  boldly.  "  That 
boy  is  my  son.  He  is  in  league  with  his  mother  to 
rob  me.  She  sent  him  here  this  morning  unknown  to 
me.  Finding  it  out,  I  took  the  ring  from  him,  and 
brought  it  here  myself." 

Paul  v^^as  certainly  surprised  at  being  claimed  as 
a  son  by  the  man  who  had  swindled  him,  and  an- 
swered, "  I  never  saw  you  before  this  morning.  I 
have  no  father  living." 

"  I  will  guarantee  this  boy's  truth  and  honesty," 
said  Mr.  Preston,  speaking  for  the  first  time.  "I 
believe  you  know  me,  Mr.  Tiffany." 


162  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

^'  I  need  no  other  assurance/'  said  the  jeweller, 
bowing.    "  Officer,  j^ou  may  remove  your  prisoner." 

"  The  game  is  up/'  said  the  adventurer,  finding  no 
further  chance  for  deception.  "  I  played  for  high 
stakes,  and  I  have  lost  the  game.  I  have  one  lavor 
to  ask.  Will  some  one  let  my  wife  know  where  I 
am?'' 

"  Give  me  her  address/'  said  Paul,  "  and  I  will  let 
her  know." 

"  No.  —  Amity  Street.  Ask  her  to  come  to  the 
station-house  to  see  me." 

"I  will  go  at  once." 

^^  Thank  you,"  said  Mr.  Montgomery;  "  as  I  am  not 
to  have  the  ring,  I  don't  know  that  I  am  sorry  it  has 
fallen  into  your  hands.  One  piece  of  advice  I  will 
venture  to  offer  you,  my  lad,"  he  added,  smiling. 
"Beware  of  any  jewellers  hailing  from  Syracuse. 
They  will  cheat  you,  if  you  give  them  a  chance." 

"  I  will  be  on  my  guard/'  said  Paul.  "  Can  I  do 
anything  more  for  you  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  thank  you.  I  have  a  fast  friend  at  my 
side,  who  will  look  after  me." 

The  officer  smiled  grimly  at  the  jest,  and  the  two 
left  the  store  arm  in  arm. 

"Do  you  still  wish  to  sell  this  ring?"  asked  Mr. 
Tiffany,  addressing  Paul. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"I  renew  my  offer  of  this  morning.  I  will  give 
you  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  accept  it." 

The  sale  was  quickly  effected,  and  Paul  left  the 
store  with  what  seemed  to  him  a  fortune  in  his  pocket. 

"Be  careful  not  to  lose  your  money,"  said  Mr, 
Preston. 

"  I  should  like  to  place  a  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
In  jour  hands/'  said  Paul,  turning  to  Mr.  Preston. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     163 

"  I  will  willingly  take  care  of  it  for  you,  and 
allow  you  interest  upon  it." 

The  transfer  was  made,  and,  carefully  depositing 
the  balance  of  the  money  in  his  pocket-book,  our 
hero  took  leave  of  his  friend  and  sought  the  house  in 
Amity  Street. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

PAULAS   ri^s^AL  SUCCESS. 

Mrs.  Mo^^tgomery  impatiently  awaited  the  return 
of  her  husband.  Meanwhile  she  commenced  pack- 
ing the  single  trunk  which  answered  both  for  her 
husband  and  herself.  She  was  getting  tired  of  ISTew 
York,  and  anxious  to  leave  for  Philadelphia,  being 
fearful  lest  certain  little  transactions  in  which  she 
and  her  husband  had  taken  part  should  iDCcome 
known  to  the  police. 

She  had  nearly  completed  her  packing  when  Paul 
rang  the  door-bell.  The  summons  was  answered  by 
the  landlady  in  person. 

"  Is  Mrs.  Montgomery  at  home  ?  '^  asked  Paul. 

"  No  such  lady  lives  here,"  was  the  answer. 

It  occurred  to  Paul  as  very  possible  that  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery might  pass  under  a  variety  of  names.  He  ac- 
cordingly said,  "  Perhaps  I  have  got  the  name  wrong. 
The  lady  I  mean  is  tall.  I  come  with  a  message 
from  her  husl^and,  who  is  a  stout  man  with  black 
hair  and  whiskers.    He  gave  me  this  number." 

"  Perhaps  you  mean  Mr.  Grimsby.  He  and  his 
wife  Live  here." 

"  Probably  that  is  the  name,"  said  Paul. 


164  TAUh  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  I  will  give  Mrs.  Grimsby  your  message/'  returned 
the  landlady,  whose  curiosity  was  excited  to  learn 
something  further  about  her  boarders. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Paul ;  "  but  it  is  necessary  for 
me  to  see  the  lady  m3'self." 

"  Well,  you  can  follow  me  then,"  said  the  landlady, 
rather  ungraciously. 

She  led  the  way  upstairs,  and  knocked  at  the  door 
©f  Mrs.  Grimsby,  or,  as  we  will  still  call  her,  Mrs. 
Montgomer}',  since  that  name  is  more  familiar  to  the 
reader,  and  she  was  as  much  entitled  to  the  one  as 
the  other. 

Mrs.  Montgomery  opened  the  door,  and  regarded 
our  hero  suspiciously,  for  her  mode  of  life  had  taught 
her  suspicion  of  strangers. 

"  Here's  a  boy  that  wants  to  see  you,"  said  the 
landlady. 

"  I  come  with  a  message  from  your  husband," 
said  Paul. 

Mrs.  Montgomery  remembered  Paul  as  the  boy  who 
was  the  real  owner  of  the  diamond  ring,  and  she  eyed 
him  with  increased  suspicion. 

"  Did  my  husband  send  you  ?  When  did  you  see 
him." 

"Just  now  at  Tiffany's,"  answered  Paul,  signifi- 
cantly. 

"  What  is  his  message  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Montgomery, 
beginning  to  feel  uneasy. 

Paul  glanced  at  the  landlady,  who,  in  the  hope  of 
gratifying  her  curiosity,  maintained  her  stand  by  his 
side. 

"  The  message  is  private,"  he  said. 

"  I  suppose  that  means  that  I  am  in  the  way," 
remarked  the  landlady  sharply.  "  I  don't  want  to 
pry  into  anybody's  secrets.  Thank  Heaven,  I  haven't 
got  any  secrets  of  my  ovm." 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.    165 

"  Walk  in,  5'Oung  man/'  said  Mrs.  Montgomery. 

Paul  entered  the  room,  and  she  closed  the  door 
behind  him.  Meanwhile  the  landlady,  who  had  gone 
part  way  downstairs,  retraced  her  steps  softly,  and 
put  her  ear  to  the  key-hole.  Her  curiosity,  naturally 
strong,  had  been  stimulated  by  Paul's  intimation  that 
there  was  a  secret. 

"  jSTow,"  said  Mrs.  Montgomery,  impatiently,  "  out 
with  it !  Wliy  does  my  husband  send  a  message  by 
you,  instead  of  coming  himself  ?  " 

"  He  can't  come  himself." 

"Why  can't  he?" 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  am  the  bearer  of  bad 
news,"  said  Paul,  gravely.  "  Your  husband  has  been 
arrested  for  robbing  me  of  a   diamond  ring." 

"  Where  is  he  ?  "  demanded  Mrs.  Montsfomery,  not 
so  much  excited  or  overcome  as  she  would  have  been 
had  this  been  the  first  time  her  husband  had  fallen 
into  the  clutches  of  the  law. 

"  At  the Street  station-house.    He  wants  you 

to  come  and  see  him." 

"  Have  you  got  the  ring  back  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

Mrs.  Montgomery  was  sorry  to  hear  it.  She  hoped 
her  husband  might  have  been  able  to  secrete  it,  in 
which  case  he  could  pass  it  over  to  her  to  dispose 
of.  Xow  she  was  rather  awkwardly  situated, 
being  without  money,  or  the  means  of  making 
any. 

"  I  will  go,"  she  said. 

Paul,  who  was  sitting  next  to  the  door,  opened  it 
suddenly,  with  unexpected  effort,  for  the  landlady, 
whose  ear  was  fast  to  the  key-hole,  staggered  into  the 
room  involuntarily. 

"So  you  were  listening,  ma'am,  were  you?"  de- 
manded Mrs.  Montgomery,  scornfully. 


166  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

"  Yes,  I  was/'  said  the  landlad}^  rather  red  in  the 
face. 

^^  You  were  in  good  business/' 

"  It's  a  better  business  than  stealing  diamond 
rings,"  retorted  the  landlady,  recovering  herself. 
^'  I've  long  '  suspected  there  was  something  wrong 
about  you  and  your  husband,  ma'am,  and  now  I 
know  it.  I  don't  want  no  thieves  nor  jail-birds  in 
my  house,  and  the  sooner  you  pay  your  bill  and 
leave,  the  better  I'll  like  it." 

"  I'll  leave  as  soon  as  you  like,  but  I  can't  pay  your 
bill." 

"  I  dare  say,"  retorted  the  landlady.  "  You're  a 
nice  character  to  cheat  an  honest  woman  out  of  four 
weeks'  board." 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  said  Mrs.  Montgomery,  coolly ; 
"if  I  haven't  got  the  money,  I  can't  pay  you.  I'll 
move  to-morrow." 

"  You'll  move  to-night,"  said  the  landlady,  angrily, 
"  and  you  won't  take  your  trunk  either.  I  ain't 
going  to  lose  fifty  dollars  for  nothing." 

"  I  don't  think  my  clothes  will  fit  you,"  said  her 
boarder. 

"  Perhaps  they  won't,"  said  the  landlady,  who  was 
short  and  dumpy,  while  Mrs.  IMontgomery  was  tall 
and  spare;  "but  you  won't  get  them  again,  at  any 
rate,  unless  you  pay  the  money." 

"  I  suppose  I  needn't  stay  any  longer,"  said  Paul, 
who  had  listened  in  silence  to  the  dialogue  between 
the  two  women. 

"  No.  Tell  my  husband,  if  you  see  him,  I  will 
come  to  him." 

"  It's  my  belief  you're  as  bad  as  he  is,"  said  the 
landlady. 

This  was  the  last  of  the  conference  which  Paul 
heard.    It  may  interest  the  reader  to  learn  that  Mrs. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     167 

Montgomery  got  her  trunk,  after  all.  The  next  day 
the  landlady  received  a  telegram,  purporting  to  come 
from  her  sister  in  Brooklyn,  summoning  her  to  her 
sick-bed.  She  answered  the  summons  in  great  haste, 
but  on  her  arrival  found  her  sister  in  her  usual 
health,  quite  unconscious  that  any  such  telegram  had 
been  sent.  The  landlady  returned  as  soon  as  pos* 
sible,  but  too  late.  Half  an  hour  after  her  depart- 
ure, Mrs.  Montgomery  appeared  with  an  expressman, 
and  carried  aw^ay  her  trunk,  the  landlady  in  her  haste 
having  forgotten  to  leave  any  instructions  on  the  sub- 
ject vnth  the  servants.  It  may  be  as  well  in  this 
connection  to  add  that  Mr.  Montgomery  was  found 
guilty  of  the  offence  charged  against  him,  through 
the  testimony  of  Paul,  and  was  sent  to  Sing  Sing  for 
a  term  of  years.  The  sentence  would  not  have  been 
so  severe  but  for  the  manner  of  the  robbery,  and  the 
fact  that  he  was  an  old  offender.  His  wife,  left  to 
her  own  resources,  is  preying  upon  the  community  in 
a  variety  of  characters.  Sometimes  she  is  a  widow, 
seeking  the  assistance  of  the  charitable  to  carry  her 
back  to  her  children  in  Canada.  Sometimes  she  begs 
help  for  an  invalid  husband  and  family  of  dependent 
children.  In  fact,  being  a  woman  of  fertile  invention, 
and  ready  adaptation  to  new  characters,  she  is  not 
likely  to  starve,  but  there  is  some  chance  of  the  law 
eventually  taking  cognizance  of  her  not  very  credit- 
able shifts  to  make  a  living.  As  the  compact  be- 
tween her  and  her  husband  was  one  of  interest  rather 
than  of  affection,  her  grief  at  his  confinement  is  not 
very  deep.  Still  she  will  be  glad  to  welcome  him  on 
his  return  to  freedom,  though  the  community  can 
hardly  be  congratulated  on  the  event. 

When  Paul  left  the  house  in  Amity  Street,  he 
did  not  at  once  return  home,  but  took  a  University 
Place  car  as  far  as  the  Astor  House.    He  was  in  a 


168  -^AUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  Oii 

hurry  to  conclude  his  bargain  with  George  Barry, 
fearing  lest  Barry  might  accept  the  other  offer,  un- 
less he  presented  himself  promptly.  In  point  of  fact, 
he  found  Barry  talking  with  the  other  applicant.  As 
he  came  up  he  heard  Barry  say,  "  I  can^t  give  you  a 
decided  answer  until  I  see  Paul  Hoffman.  I  have 
given  him  the  refusal  of  the  stand  until  to-mor- 
row." 

"  How  much  does  he  offer  ?  "  asked  the  stranger. 

'^  He  will  pay  me  thirty-five  dollars,  if  he  can  raise 
the  money." 

"  Do  you  think  he  can  ?  " 

"I  am  not  certain.  If  he  can't,  I  may  accept 
your  offer,  though  I  ought  to  have  more  money." 

The  other  would  have  offered  more,  but  from  what 
Barry  said  he  concluded  that  Paul  would  be  unable 
to  raise  the  mone}^,  and  he  would  succeed  in  getting 
the  stand  at  his  own  price. 

It  was  just  at  this  moment  that  Paul  came  up. 

"  Well,  Paul,  what  news  ?  "  asked  Barry. 

"  I  am  ready  to  buy  your  stand,"  said  Paul. 

"  Can  you  pav  me  all  the  money  down  ?  " 

"  On  the  spot." 

"  Then  it  is  all  settled,"  said  Barry,  with  satisfac^ 
tion.  "I  am  glad  of  it,  for  now  I  shall  be  able  to 
go  on  to  Philadelphia  to-morrow." 

Paul  drew  a  roll  of  bills  from  his  pocket,  and 
proceeded  to  count  out  thirty-five  dollars.  Barry 
noticed  with  surprise  that  he  had  a  considerable 
amount  left. 

"  You  are  getting  rich,  Paul,"  he  said. 

"  I  am  not  rich  yet,"  answered  Paul,  "  but  I  mean 
to  be  some  time,  if  I  can  accomplish  it  by  industry 
and  attention  to  business." 

"You'll  be  sure  to  succeed,"  said  George  Barry. 
*VYou're  just  the  right  sort.     Good-by,  old  fellow. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     169 

When  you  come  on  to  Philadelphia,  come  and  see 
me/' 

"  I  may  establish  a  branch-stand  in  Philadelphia 
before  long/'  said  Paul,  jocosely. 


CHAPTEK  XXYI. 

CONCLUSION. 

When  Paul  was  left  in  charge  of  the  stand,  and 
realized  that  it  was  his  own,  he  felt  a  degree  of  sat- 
isfaction which  can  be  imagined.  He  had  been  a 
newsboy,  a  baggage-smasher,  and  in  fact  had  pretty 
much  gone  the  round  of  the  street  trades,  but  now  he 
felt  that  he  had  advanced  one  step  higher.  Some  of 
my  readers  may  not  appreciate  the  diiference,  but  to 
Paul  it  was  a  great  one.  He  was  not  a  merchant 
prince,  to  be  sure,  but  he  had  a  fixed  place  of  busi- 
ness, and  with  his  experience  he  felt  confident  he 
could  make  it  pay. 

"  I  am  sure  I  can  make  from  ten  to  fifteen  dollars 
a  week,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I  averaged  over  a 
dollar  a  day  when  T  worked  for  George  Barry,  and 
then  I  only  got  half  profits.  Now  I  shall  have  the 
whole." 

This  consideration  was  a  very  agreeable  one.  He 
would  be  able  to  maintain  his  mother  and  little 
Jimmy  in  greater  comfort  than  before,  and  this  he 
cared  more  for  than  for  any  extra  indulgences  for 
himself.  In  fact  he  could  relieve  his  mother  entirely 
from  the  necessity  of  working,  and  3'et  live  better 
than  at  present.  When  Paul  thought  of  this,  it  gave 
him  a  thrill  of  satisfaction,  and  made  him  feel  almost 
like  a  man. 


170  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

He  set  to  work  soliciting  custom,  and  had  soon 
sold  three  neck-ties  at  twenty-five  cents  each. 

"  All  that  money  is  mine,"  he  thought  proudly. 
"  I  haven't  got  to  hand  any  of  it  over  to  George 
Barry.    That's  a  comfort" 

As  this  thought  occurred  to  him  he  recognized  an 
old  acquaintance  strolling  along  the  sidewalk  in  his 
direction.  It  was  no  other  than  Jim  Parker,  the 
friend  and  crony  of  Mike  Donovan,  who  will  be 
remembered  as  figuring  in  not  a  very  creditable  way 
in  the  earlier  chapters  of  this  story.  It  so  happened 
that  he  and  Paul  had  not  met  for  some  time,  and  Jim 
was  quite  ignorant  of  Paul's  rise  in  life. 

As  for  Jim  himself  no  great  change  had  taken 
place  in  his  appearance  or  prospects.  His  suit  was 
rather  more  racfcred  and  dirty  than  when  we  first 
made  his  acquaintance,  having  been  worn  night  and 
day  in  the  streets,  by  night  stretched  out  in  some 
dirty  alley  or  out-of-the-way  corner,  where  Jim  found 
cheap  lodgings.  He  strolled  along  with  his  hands  in 
his  pockets,  not  much  concerned  at  the  deficiencies 
in  his  costume. 

"  Hallo !  "  said  he.  stopping  opposite  Paul's  stand. 
"  What  are  you  up  to  ?  " 

"  You  can  see  for  j^ourself ,"  answered  Paul.  "  I 
am  sellin.s:  neck-ties." 

"  How  long've  you  been  at  it  ? '' 

"  Just  bes^un." 

"  Who's  Tour  boss  ?  " 

"  I  haven't  any." 

"You  ain't  runnin'  the  stand  yourself,  be  you?'' 
asked  Jim,  in  surprise. 

"  Yes." 

"  Where'd  yow  borrow  the  stamps?  " 

"  Of  my  mother,"  said  Paul.  "  Can't  I  sell  yon  a 
neek-tie  this  morning?" 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     171 

*^  Not  much/^  said  Jim,  laughing  at  the  joke. 
"Fve  got  my  trunks  stuffed  full  of  'em  at  home, 
but  I  don't  wear  'em  only  Sundays.  Do  you  make 
much  money  ?  " 

"  I  expect  to  do  pretty  well." 

"  What  made  you  give  up  sellin'  prize  packages  ?  " 
asked  Jim,  slyly. 

"  Customers  like  you/'  answered  Paul. 

Jim  laughed. 

"  You  didn't  catch  me  that  time  you  lost  your 
basket,"  he  said. 

"  That  was  a  mean  trick,"  said  Pail,  indignantly. 

"You  don't  want  to  hire  me  to  sell  for  you,  do 
you?" 

"  That's  where  you're  right.    I  don't." 

"  I'd  like  to  go  into  the  business." 

"  You'd  better  open  a  second-hand  clothing  store," 
suggested  Paul,  glancing  at  his  companion's  ragged 
attire. 

"  Maybe  I  will,"  said  Jim,  with  a  grin,  "  if  you'll 
buy  of  me." 

"  I  don't  like  the  style,"  said  Paul.  "  Who's  your 
tailor?" 

"  He  lives  round  in  Chatham  Street.  Say,  can't 
you  lend  a  fellow  a  couple  of  shillin'  to  buy  some 
breakfast  ?  " 

"  Have  you  done  any  work  to-day  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Then  you  can't  expect  to  eat  if  you  don't 
work." 

"  I  didn't  have  no  money  to  start  with." 

"  Suppose  you  had  a  quarter,  what  would  you  do?  " 

'^  I'd  buy  a  ten-cent  plate  of  meat,  and  buy  some 
evenin'  papers  with  the  rest." 

*^  If  you'll  do  that,  I'll  give  you  what  you  ask 
for." 


172  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

^'  You'll  give  me  two  shillin'  ?  "  repeated  Jim  in- 
credulously, for  he  remembered  how  he  had  wronged 
Paul. 

"  Yes,"  said  Paul.  "  Here's  the  money ;  "  and  he 
drew  a  twenty-five  cent  scrip  from  his  vest-pocket, 
■  and  handed  it  to  Jim. 

"  You  give  me  that  after  the  mean  trick  I  played 
you?  "  said  Jim. 

"  Yes,  I  am  sorry  for  you,  and  want  to  help  you 
along." 

"  You're  a  brick !  "  exclaimed  Jim,  emphatically. 
"  If  any  feller  tries  to  play  a  trick  on  you,  you  just 
tell  me,  and  I'll  lam  him." 

"  All  right,  Jim !  "  said  Paul,  kindly ;  ^'  I'll  remem- 
ber it." 

"  There  ain't  anybody  you  want  licked,  is  there  ? '' 
asked  Jim,  earnestly. 

"  Not  at  present,  thank  you,"  said  Paul,  smiling. 

"  When  you  do,  I'm  on  hand,"  said  Jim.  "  Now 
I'll  go  and  get  some  grub." 

He  shuffled  along  towards  Ann  Street,  where  there 
was  a  cheap  eating-house,  in  which  ten  cents  would 
pay  for  a  plate  of  meat.  He  was  decidedly  hungryp 
and  did  justice  to  the  restaurant,  whose  style  of  cook- 
ery, though  not  very  choice,  suited  him  so  well  that  he 
could  readily  have  eaten  three  plates  of  meat  instead 
of  one,  but  for  the  prudent  thought  that  compelled 
him  to  reserve  enough  to  embark  in  business  after- 
wards. Jim  was  certainly  a  hard  ticket;  but  Paul's 
unexpected  kindness  had  won  him,  and  produced  a 
more  profound  impression  than  a  dozen  floggings 
could  have  done.  I  may  add  that  Jim  proved  lucky 
in  his  business  investment,  and  by  the  close  of  the 
afternoon  had  enough  money  to  provide  himself  with 
supper  and  lodging,  besides  a  small  fund  to  start 
with  the  next  day. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     173 

Paul  sold  three  more  neck-ties,  and  then,  though  it 
yet  lacked  an  hour  of  the  time  when  he  generally 
proposed  to  close,  he  prepared  to  go  home.  He 
wanted  to  communicate  the  good  news  to  his  mother 
and  little  Jimmy. 

Mrs.  Hoffman  raised  her  eyes  from  her  sewing  as 
he  entered. 

"  Well,  Paul,"  she  said,  "  have  you  heard  any- 
thing of  the  ring  ?  " 

^'  Yes,  mother,  it's  sold." 

"Is  it?  Well,  we  must  do  without  it  then,"  said 
his  mother,  in  a  tone  of  disappointment. 

"  There  won't  be  any  trouble  about  that,  mother, 
as  long  as  we  have  got  the  money  for  it.  I  would 
rather  have  that  th^u  the  ring." 

"  Did  you  recover  it  then  ? "  asked  his  mother, 
eagerly. 

"  Yes.  mother, — listen,  and  I  will  tell  you  all 
about  it." 

He  sat  down  and  told  the  story  to  two  very  atten- 
tive listeners. 

"  What  did  3'Ou  do  with  the  money,  Paul  ?  "  asked 
Jimmy. 

'^^Mr.  Preston  is  keeping  a  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars for  me.  He  will  allow  seven  per  cent,  interest. 
But  I  must  not  forget  that  the  money  belongs  to  you, 
mother,  and  not  to  me.  Perhaps  you  would  prefer 
to  deposit  it  in  a  savings-bank." 

"  I  am  quite  satisfied  with  your  disposal  of  it, 
Paul,"  said  Mrs.  Hoffman.  "  I  little  thought,  when 
I  found  the  ring,  that  it  would  be  of  such  service  to 
us." 

"  It  has  set  me  up  in  business,"  said  Paul,  "  and  I 
am  sure  to  make  money.  But  I  am  getting  out  of 
stock.  I  must  go  round  and  buy  some  more  neck-ties 
to-morrow." 


^74  PAUL  THE  PEDDLER  ;  OR, 

''How  much  do  you  pay  for  jouv  ties,  Paul?'* 
asked  his  mother. 

"  One  shilling ;  I  sell  them  for  two.  That  gives 
jie  a  good  profit." 

"  I  wonder  whether  I  couldn't  make  them  ?  "  said 
Mrs.  Hoffman.  "  I  find  there  is  no  sewing  at  present 
to  be  got,  and,  besides,"  she  added,  "  I  think  I  would 
father  work  for  you  than  for  a  stranger." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  your  working,  mother.  I 
can  earn  enough  to  support  the  family." 

"  Wiule  I  have  health  I  would  prefer  to  work, 
Paul." 

"  Then  I  will  bring  roimd  some  of  the  ties  to-mor- 
row. I  have  two  or  three  kinds.  There  is  nothing 
very  hard  about  any  of  them.  I  think  they  would  be 
easy  to  make." 

"  That  will  suit  me  much  better  than  making 
shirts." 

"  Suppose  I  admit  you  to  the  firm,  mother  ?  I  can 
get  a  large  sign-board,  and  have  painted  on  it, — 


PAUL  HOFFMAN  AND  MOTHER, 

DEALERS  IN"   NECK-TIES. 

How  would  that  sound  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  would  rather  leave  the  business  part  in 
your  hands,  Paul." 

"  T  begin  to  feel  like  a  wholesale  merchant  al- 
ready"  said  Paul.  "  Who  knows  but  I  may  be  one 
some  day?" 

"  Many  successful  men  have  begun  as  low  down," 
said  his  mother :  "  with  energy  and  industry  much 
may  be  accomplished." 

•^Do  you  think  I'll  ever  be  a  wholesale  painter?'* 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  STREET  MERCHANT.     175 

asked  Jimm}^  whose  small  ears  had  drank  in  the  con- 
versation. 

"  Better  try  for  it,  Jimmy,"  said  Paul.  "  I  don't 
know  exactly  what  a  wholesale  painter  is,  unless  it's 
one  who  paints  houses.'' 

"  I  shouldn't  like  that,"  said  the  little  hoy. 

"  Then,  Jimmy,  you'd  hetter  he  a  retail  painter." 

"  I  guess  I  will,"  said  Jimmy,  seriously. 


Thus  far  we  have  accompanied  Paul  Hoffman  in 
his  career.  He  is  considerably  better  off  than  when 
we  met  him  peddling  prize  packages  in  front  of  the 
post  office.  But  we  have  reason  to  believe  that 
greater  success  awaits  him.  He  will  figure  in  the 
next  two  volumes  of  this  series,  more  particularly  in 
the  second,  to  be  called  Slow  and  Sure;  or,  From 
the  Sidewalk  to  the  Shop.  Before  this  appears,  how- 
ever, I  propose  to  describe  the  adventures  of  a  friend 
and  protege  of  Paul's — under  the  title  of 

Phil,  the  Fiddler; 

OR, 

The  Young  Street  Musician. 


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A  Volume  of  Cheerfulness  in  Rhyme  and  Picture 

KINDERGARTEN 
UMERICKS 

By  FLORENCE  E.  SCOTT 

Pictures  by  Arthur  O.  Scott  with  a  Foreword^ 
by  Lucy  Wheelock 


f^S' 


ncetS^" 


The  book  contains  a  rhyme  for  every  letter  of  ih9 
alphabet,  each  illustrated  by  a  full  page  picture  in 
colors.  The  verses  appeal  to  the  child's  sense  of  humor 
without  being  foolish  or  sensational,  and  will  be  wel- 
comed by  kindergartners  for  teaching  rhythm  in  a  most 
entertaining  manner. 

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HURST  &  COMPANY'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 

FRANK  ARMSTRONG  SERIES 

J]  By  MATTHEW  M.  COLTON 

Cloth  Bound.   Illustrated.   Price,  60c.  per  vol.,  postpaid 

Frank  Armstrong's    Vaca* 


tion 

How  Frank's  sunumer  experiences  with 
his  boy  friends  make  him  into  a  sturdy 
young  athlete  through  swimming,  boat- 
ing and  baseball  contests,  and  a  tramp 
through  the  Everglades,  is  the  subject 
of  this  splendid  story. 

Frank  Armstrong  at  Queens 

We  find  among  the  jolly  iboys  at 
Queen's  School,  Frank,  the  student-athlete, 
Jimmy,  the  baseball  enthusiast,  and 
Lewis,  the  unconsciously-Junny  youth 
who  furnishes  comedy  for  every  page 
that  bears  his  name.  Fall  and  winter 
sports  between  intensely  rivai  school 
teams  are  expertly  described. 

Frank  Armstrong's  Second  Term 

The    gymnasium,    the    track    and    the    field    make    ihe    back- 

f round  for  the  stirring  events  of  this  volume,   in  which  David, 
immy,   Lewis,   the   "Wee   One"  and  the  "Codfish**  figure,   while 
Frank   "saves  the  day." 

Frank  Armstrong,  Drop  Kicker 

With  the  same  persistent  determination  that  •won  him  suc- 
cess in  swimming,  running  and  baseball  playing,  Frank  Arm- 
strong acquired  the  art  of  "drop-kicking,"  and  the  Queen's  foot- 
ball  team   profits   thereby. 

Frank  Armstrong,  Captain  of  the  Nine 

Exciting  contests,  unexpected  emergencies,  interesting  incid- 
ents by  land  and  water  make  this  story  of  Frank  Armstrong 
a  strong  tale  of  school-life,  athletic  success,  and  loyal  friend- 
ships, 

Frank  Armstrong  at  College 

With  the  development  of  this  series,  the  boy  characters  have 
developed  until  in  this,  the  best  story  of  all,  they  appear  as 
typical  college  students,  giving  to  each  page  the  life  and  vigor 
of  the  true  college  spirit. 

Six  of  the  best  books  of  College  Life  Stories  published.  They 
accurately  describe  athletics  from  start  to  finish. 

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9AKDALE    ACADEMY    SERIES 

Stories  of  Modem  Scbool  Sports 

By  MORGAN  SCOTT. 
Cloth  Bound,  Illustrated.  Price,  60c.  per  vol.,  pMtpaii 
BEN  STONE  AT  OAKDALE. 

Under  peculiarly  trying  circum- 
stances Ben  Stone  wins  his  way  at' 
Oakdale  Academy,  and  at  the 
same  time  enlists  our  sympathy, 
interest  and  respect.  Through  the", 
enmity  of  Bern  Hayden,  the  loyalty- 
of  Roger  Eliot  and  the  clever  work'' 
of  the  "Sleuth,"  Ben  is  falsely  ac-l 
cused,  championed  and  vindicated.! 

BOYS  OF  OAKDALE 

ACADEMY. 

"One  thing  \  will  claim,  and  that 
-^^^"^M  is  that  all  Grants  fight  open  and 
square  and  there  never  was  a  sneak  among  them."  It  was' 
Rodney  Grant,  of  Texas,  who  made  the  claim  to  his  friend,! 
Ben  Stone,  and  this  story  shows  how  he  proved  the  truthj 
of  this  statement  in  the  face  of  apparent  evidence  to  the' 
contrary. 

RIVAL  PITCHERS  OF  OAKDALE. 

Baseball  is  the  main  theme  of  this  interesting  narrative!,  I 
and  that  means  not  only  clear  and  clever  descriptions  ol 
thrilling  games,  but  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the 
members  of  the  teams  who  played  th^'m.  The  Oakdale 
Boys  were  ambitious  and  loyal,  and  some  were  even  dis- 
gruntled and  jealous,  but  earnest,  persistent  work  won  out. 

OAKDALE  ROYS  IN  CAMP. 

The  typical  vacation  is  the  one  that  means  much  fr«e- 
dom,  little  restriction,  and  immediate  contact  with  "all  out- 
Moors."   These  conditions  prevailed  in  the  summer  camp  ol 
'the  Oakdale  Boys  and  made  it  a  scene  of  lively  interest. 

THE  GREAT  OAKDALK  MYSTERY. 

;  The  "Sleuth"  scents  a  mystery!  He  "follows  his  nose.** 
^The  plot  thickens!  He  makes  deductions.  There  are 
surprises  for  the  reader — and  for  the  "Sleuth,"  as  well. 

NEW  BOYS  AT  OAKDALE.  i 

A  new  element  creeps  into  Oakdale  with  another  year's 
registration  of  students.  The  old  and  the  new  standards 
of  conduct  in  and  out  of  school  meet,  battle,  and  cause 
sv/eeping  changes  in  the  lives  of  several  of  the  boys. 

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Log  Cabin  to  White  House  Series 

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Cloth  Bound.  Illustrated.   Price,  60c.,  per  vol.,  postpaid 
FROM  BOYHOOD  TO  MANHOOD 
(The   Life   of   Benjamin   Frank= 
in).     By  Wm,  M,  Thayer. 


FROMPIONEERHOME 
TO  WHITE  HOUSE 

LIFE  OF  LINCOLN 


Benjamin  Franklin  was  known  in  the 
scientific  world  for  his  inventions  and 
discoveries,  in  the  diplomatic  world  be- 
cause of  his  statemanship,  and  every- 
where, because  of  his  sound  judgment, 
plain  speaking,  and  consistent  living. 

FROM  FARM  HOUSE  TO  WHITE 
HOUSE  (The  Life  of  George 
Washington).  By  Wm,  M, 
Thayer. 

The    story    of    the    hatchet    and    other 
^^^^  familiar    incidents    of    the    boyhood    and 

Slb^         /sS^^^^Sl^      young    manhood    of    Washington    are    in- 
^IJSir  ^^^^^^^^J5         eluded    in    this    book,    as    well    as    many 

X^j  "^^  THAVEBjj  less  well-known  accounts   of  his   experi- 

ences    as     surveyor,     soldier,     emissary, 
leader,  and  first  president  of  the  United  States. 

FROM  LOG  CABIN  TO  WHITE  HOUSE   (The  Life  of 
James  A.  Garfield).     By  Wm.  M.  Thayer. 

It  was  a  long  step  from  pioneer  home  in  Ohio  where  James 
A.  Garfield  was  born,  to  the  White  House  in  Washington,  and 
that  it  was  an  interesting  life-journey  one  cannot  doubt  who  reads 
Mr.  Thayer's  account  of  it. 

FROM  PIONEER  HOME  TO  WHITE  HOUSE  (The  Life 
of  Abraham  Lincoln).    By  Wm.  M.  Thayer. 

No  President  was  ever  dearer  to  the  hearts  of  his  people 
than   was   homely,   humorous   "Honest   Abe." 

To  read  of  his  mother,  his  early  home,  his  efforts  for  an 
education,  and  his  rise  to  prominence  is  to  understand  better  his 
rare  nature  and  practical  wisdom. 

FROM  RANCH  TO  WHITE  HOUSE  (The  Life  of  Theo- 
dore Roosevelt).     By  Edward  S.  Ellis,  A.  M. 

Every  boy  and  girl  is  more  or  less  familiar  with  the  ex- 
periences of  Mr.  Roosevelt  as  Colonel  and  President,  but  few 
of  them  know  him  as  the  boy  and  man  of  family  and  school 
circles   and   private   citzenship. 

Mr.  Ellis  describes  Theodore  Roosevelt  as  a  writer,  a  hun- 
ter, a  fighter  of  "graft"  at  home  and  of  Spaniards  in  Cuba,  and 
a  just  and  vigorous  defender  of  right. 

FROM   TANNERY  TO   WHITE   HOUSE    (The  Life   of 
Ulysses  S.  Grant).    By  Wm.  M.  Thayer. 

Perhaps  General  Grant  is  best  known  to  boys  and  girls  as 
the  hero  of  the  famous  declaration:  *T  will  fight  it  out  on  this 
line  if  it  takes  all  summer." 

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By  GORDON  BRADDOCK 


»] 


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Rex  Kingdon  of  RiHgewood 
High 


A  new  boy  moves  into  town.  "Who  is 
he?  What  can  he  do?  Will  he  make 
one  of  the  school  teams?  Is  his  friend- 
ship worth  having?  These  are  the 
queries  of  the  Ridgewood  High  Students. 
The  story  is  the  answer. 

Rex  Kingdon  in  the  North 
Woods 

Rex  and  some  of  his  Ridgewood  friends  establish  a  canap  fire  in 
the  North  Woods,  and  there  mystery,  jealousy,  and  rivalry  enter 
to  menace  their  safety,  fire  their  interest  and  finally  cement  their 
friendship. 

Rex  Kingdon  at  Walcott  Hall 

Lively  boarding   school  experiences  make  this  the  "best  yet** 

of  the  Rex  Kingdon  series. 

Rex  Kingdon  Behind  the  Bat 

The  title  tells  you  what  this  story  is;  it  is  a  rattling  good 
story  about  baseball.    Boys  will  like  it. 

Gordon  Braddock  knows  what  Boys  want  and  how  to  write 
it.      These  stories  make  the  best  reading  you  can  procure. 

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GREAT  WAR  SERIES 

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^ 


Cj)\  two 

lAMERICAN  BOYS 
ALLIED  AR^4tES 

MAJOR  SHERMAN  caoCKETT 


Two  American  Boys  with  the  Allied  Armies 

Two  American  Boys  in  the  French   War 
Trenches 

Two  American  Boys  with  the  Dardanelles 
Battle  Fleet 

The  disastrous  battle  raging  in  Europe  between  Germany  and 
Austria  on  one  side  and  the  Allied  countries  on  the  other,  has 
created  demand  for  literature  on  the  subject.  The  Americaa 
public  to  a  large  extent  is  ignorant  of  the  exact  locations  of  the 
fighting  zones  with  its  small  towns  and  villages.  Major  Crockett, 
who  Is  familiar  with  the  present  battle-fields,  has  undertaken  to 
{>lac«  before  the  American  boy  an  interesting  Series  of  War  stories. 

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BOY  SCOUTS 
EAGLE  FHTROL 


HURST  &  COMPANY'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 

n    BOY  SCOUT  SERIES 

BIWORSBD  BY  BOYt  SCOUT  ORGANIZATIONS 

By  UEUT.  HOWARD  PAYSON 

Cloth.  Illustrated.   Price  50c.  Each 
BOY    SCOUTS    OF    THE    EAGLE 
PATROL 

In  this  story,  self-reliance  and  self-d©- 
ifense  through  organized  athletics  are 
emphasized. 

BOY    SCOUTS    ON    THE    RANGE 

Cow-punchers,     Indians,     the     Arizona 
desert  and  the  Harkness  ranch  flgura  in 
this  tale  of  the  Boy  Scouts. 
BOY    SCOUTS   AND   THE  ARMY 
AIRSHIP 

The  cleverness  of  one  of  the  Scouts  as 

an  amateur  inventor  and  the  intrigues  of 

his  enenues  to  secure  his  Inventions  mak« 

a  subject  of  breathless  interest. 

BOY  SCOUTS'  MOUNTAIN  CAMP 

Just    so    often    as    the   reader   draws   a    relieved   breath   at   the 

escape   of   the    Scouts   from   imminent   danger,   he   loses   it   again 

in  the  instinctive!  impression,  which  he  shares  with  tha  boys,  of 

impending  peril, 

BOY  SCOUTS  FOR  UNCLE  SAM 

Patriotism  is  a  Tital  principle  in  every  Boy  Scout  organization, 
but  few  there  are  who  nave  sucn  an  opportunity  for  its  practical 
expression  as  comes  to  the  members  of  the  Eagle  Patrol. 

BOY  SCOUTS  AT  THE  PANAMA  CANAL 

Most  timely  is  this  authentic  story  of  the  "great  ditch."  It  is 
illustrated  by  photographs   of  the  Canal  iu  process   of  Building. 

BOY  SCOUTS  UNDER  FIRE  IN  MEXICO 

Another  tale  appropriate  to  the  unsettled  conditions  of  the  pres- 
ent is  this  account  of  recent  conflict. 

BOY  SCOUTS  ON  BELGIAN  BATTLEFIELDS 

Wonderfully  interesting  is  the  story  of  Belgium  as  it  figures  in 
this  tale  of  the  Great  War. 

BOY  SCOUTS  WITH  THE  ALLIES  IN  FRANCE 

On  the  firing  line — or  very  near — we  find  the  Scouts  in  France. 

BOY  SCOUTS  at  THE  PANAMA.PACIFIC  EXPOSITION 

If  you  couldn't  attend  the  Exposition  yourself,  you  can  go  even 
now  in  imagination  with  the  Boy  Scouts. 

BOY  SCOUTS  UNDER  SEALED  ORDERS 

Here  the  Boy  Scouts  have  a  secret  mission  to  perform  for  the 
Governn>ent.  What  is  the  nature  of  it?  Keen  boys  will  find  that 
out  by  reading  the  book.     It's  a  dandy  story. 

BOY  SCOUTS'  CAMPAIGN  FOR  PREPAREDNESS 

Just  as  the  Scouts'  motto  is  "Be  Prepared,"  just  for  these  rea- 
sons that  they  prepare  for  the  country's  defense.  What  they  do 
and  how  they  do  it  makes  a  volume  well  wortli  reading. 

You  do  not  have  to  be  a  Boy  Scout  to  enjoy  these  fascinating 
and  well-written  stories.  Any  boy  has  the  chance.  Next  to  the 
Manual  itself,  the  books  give  an  accurate  description  of  Boy 
Scout  activities,  for  they  are  educational  and  instructive. 

Price  postpaid,  50  cents  per  volume,  or  we  will  send  any  six 
titles   you  select  for  $2.50. 
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MOTOR  CYCLE  SERIES 

'1       By  LIEUT.  HOWARD  PAYSON 

Cloth  Bound.    Illustrated.    Price,  50c  per  vol.,  postpaid 

The  Motor  Cycle  Chums 
Around  the  World 


Could  Jules  Verne  have  dreamed  of  en- 
circling the  globe  with  a  motor  cycle  for 
emergencies,  he  would  have  deemed  it 
an  achievement  greater  than  any  he  de- 
scribes in  his  account  of  the  amusing  , 
travels  of  Philias  Fogg.  This,  however,  is 
the  purpose  successfully  carried  out  by 
the  Motor  Cycle  Chums,  and  the  tale  of 
their  mishaps,  hindrances  and  delays  is 
one  of  intense  interest,  secret  amuse- 
ment, and  incidental  information  to  the 
reader. 

The  Motor  Cycle  Chums  of 
the  Northwest  Patrol 

The  Great  Northwest  is  a  section  of 
vast  possibilities  and  in  it  the  Motor 
Cycle  Chums  meet  adventures  even  more  unusual  and  exciting 
than  many  of  their  experiences  on  their  tour  around  the  world. 
There  is  not  a  dull  page  in  this  lively  narrative  of  clever  boys 
and  their  attendant  '^Chinee." 

The  Motor  Cycle  Chums  in  the  Gold  Fields 

How  the  Motor  Cycle  Chums  were  caught  by  the  lure  of  the  gold 
and  into  what  difficulties  and  novel  experiences  they  were  led, 
makes  a  tale  of  thrilling  interest. 

The  Motor  Cycle  Chums*  Whirlwind  Tour 

To  right  a  wrong  is  the  mission  that  leads  the  Riding  Rovers 
over  the  border  into  Mexico  and  gives  the  impulse  to  this  story 
of   amusing  adventures   and   exciting   episodes. 

The    Motor    Cycle    Chums    South    of    the 
Equator 

New  customs,  strange  peoples  and  unfamiliar  surroundings  add 
fresh  zest  to  the  interest  of  the  Motor  Cycle  Chums  in  travel,  and 
the  tour  described  in  this  volume  is  full  of  the  tropical  atmos- 
phere. 

The  Motor  Cycle  Chums  through  Historic 
America 

The  Motor  Cycle  Chums  explore  the  paths  -where  American  his- 
tory was  made,  where  interest  centers  to-day  as  never  before. 

You  do  not  need  to  own  either  a  motor-cycle  or  a  bicycle  to 
enjoy  the  thrilling  experiences  through  which  the  Motor  Cycle 
Chums  pass  on  their  way  to  seek  adventure  and  excitement. 
Brimful  of  clever  episodes. 

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BOY  INVENTORS*  SERIES 

n  By  RICHARD  BONNER 

Cloth  Bound.    Illustrated.    Price,  50c  per  vol.,  postpaid 

The  Boy  Inventors'  Wire' 
less  Triumph 

Blest  with  natural  curiosity,^— some- 
times called  the  instinct  of  investigation, 
—favored  with  golden  opportunity,  and 
gifted  with  creative  ability,  the  Boy  In- 
ventors meet  emergencies  and  contrive 
mechanical  wonders  that  interest  and 
convince  the  reader  because  they  always 
"work;"  when  put  to  the  test. 

The  Boy  Inventors  and  the 
Vanishing  Gun 

A  thought,  a  belief,  an  experiment;  dis- 
couragement, hope,  effort  and  final  suc- 
cess. This  too  is  the  history  of  the  dar- 
ing Boy  Inventors. 

The  Boy  Inventors'  Diving  Torpedo  Boat 

As  in  the  previous  stories  of  the  Boy  Inventors,  new  and  in- 
teresting triumphs  of  mechanisms  are  produced  which  become 
immediately  valuable,  and  the  stage  for  their  proving  and  test- 
ing is  again  the  water.  On  the  surface  and  below  it,  the  boys 
have  jolly,  contagious  fun. 

The  Boy  Inventors'  Flying  Ship 

A  Boston  newspaper  reporter, — a  young  fellow  with  a  camera 
slung  over  his  shoulders, — wanders  into  this  story  at  the  very 
beginning.  He  finds  himself  an  aerial  stowaway  and  finally  a 
part  of  a  South  American  exploring  party.  How  this  happens 
is  an  absorbing  tale  in  itself. 

The  Boy  Inventors'  Electric  Hydroaeroplane 

The  restless,  inventive  spirit  of  Jack  Chadwick  and  the  per- 
sistent enthusiasm  of  his  cousin,  Tom  Jesson,  once  more  clamor 
for  a  new  expression,  and  this  book  describes  the  unique  result 
of  their  labors  and  the  use  to  which  it  is  opportunely  put. 

The  Boy  Inventors'  Radio  Telephone 


adapt    and    improve    the    latest 
fresh  impulse  to  the  ambition 


The    determination    to    adopt, 
means   of  communication  gave 
of  the  Boy  Inventors. 

"Watch  boys,  and  you  will  notice  their  minds  naturally  turn  to 
mechanism.  In  these  delightful  stories,  the  boys  try  their 
genius  in  new  inventions.  Read  the  books  and  see  what  they 
accomplish  through  skill  and  ingenuity. 

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DREADNOUGHT  BOYS  SERIES 

w]  TALES  OF  THE  NEW  NAVY 

By  CAPT.  WILBUR  LAWTON 

Cloth.    Illustrated.    Price,  50c.  per  volume 

The  Dreadnought  Boys  on 
Battle  Practice 

Especially  interesting  and  timely  Is 
this  Dook  which  introduces  the  reader 
with  its  heroes,  Ned  and  Here,  to  the 
jcreat  ships  of  modem  warfare  and  to 
the  intimate  life  and  surprising  adven- 
tures of  Uncle  Sam's  sailors. 

The    Dreadnought    Boys 
Aboard  a  Destroyer 

In  this  story  real  dangers  threaten 
and  the  boys'  patriotism  is  tested  in  a 
peculiar  international  tangle.  The 
scene  i^  laid  on  the  South  American 
coast. 


DREADNOUGHT 
'^O*^  BOYS  51 
A  SUBMARINE- 
CAPTAIN  waauR  uwToii 


The  Dreadnought  Boys  on  a  Submarine 

To  the  inventive  genius — trade-school  boy  or  mechanic — ^this 
story  has  special  charm,  perhaps,  but  to  every  reader  its  my- 
stery and  clever  action  are  fascinating. 

The  Dreadnought  Boys  on  Aero  Service 

Among  the  volunteers  accepted  for  Aero  Service  are  Ned  and 
Here.  Their  perilous  adventures  are  not  confined  to  the  air,  how- 
ever, although  they  malie  daring  and  notable  flights  in  the  name 
of  the  Government;  nor  are  they  always  able  to  fly  beyond  the 
reach  of  their  old  "enemies,"  who  are  also  iiirmen. 

The  Dreadnought  Boys*  World  Cruise 

From  San  Francisco  the  boys  start  on  their  world  cruise.  At 
Hawaii,  Japan,  Egypt  and  Gibraltar  they  meet  experiences  unfor- 
seen  and  eventful. 

The  Dreadnought  Boys  in  Home  Waters 

Into  mimic  naval  warfare  creeps  actual  intrigue  that  compli- 
cates the  defense  of  New  York  Harbor. 

It  would  be  hard  work  to  find  a  boy — young  or  old — who  is 
not  keenly  alive  to  the  achievements  of  our  great  Navy.  You 
can  get  a  good  conception  of  what  Uncle  Sam  is  doing  by  reading 
these  marvellous  stories. 

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IN  NICARAGUA 


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HURST  &.  COMPANY'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 

BOY  AVIATORS  SERIES 

11]  Thrilling  Airship   Stories 

By  CAPTAIN   WILBUR  LAWTON 

Cloth  Bound.   Illustrated.   Price,  50c.  per  vol.,  postpaid. 

THE    BOY   AVIATORS    IN    NICA- 
RAGUA 

"Boys  of  all  ages  will  be  captivated  by 
this  clever  story  of  two  bright  American 
lads  who  in  an  aeroplane  of  unusual  con- 
struction have  many  adventures  in  Nica- 
ragua." 
THE  BOY  AVIATORS  ON  SECRET 

SERVICE 

"Its  heroes  go  in  an  airship  to  the 
Everglades  of  Florida,  and  use  their 
wireless  telegraph  to  assist  in  the  rescue 
of  a  Government  inventor.  Japanese  spies 
are  plotting  against  them,  and  the  result 
is  a  thrill  in  every  chapter." 

THE  BOY  AVIATORS  IN  AFRICA 

"In  this  book  the  lads  go  to  Africa  in 
their  flying  machine  and  strike  an  aerial 
ivory  trail.  Adventures  come  thick  and  fast.  One  cannot  help 
wishing  himself  fourteen  years  old  once  more,  to  take  this  book 
out  back  on  the  barn,  or  under  the  pear  tree,  to  enjoy  it  in  fashion." 

THE  BOY  AVIATORS'  TREASURE  QUEST 

"The  author  takes  the  boys  on  a  quest  after  the  golden  galleon, 
lost  in  a  position  where  it  is  imaginatively  possible  to  obtain  the 
treasure.  The  story  is  one  of  the  keenest  interest  from  the  boy 
Btandpoint." 

THE  BOY  AVIATORS  IN  RECORD  FLIGHT 

"The  story  deals  with  aerial  contests  for  a  big  prize  offered  by 
newspapers  to  fly  from  New  York  across  the  continent  and  tha 
hairbreadth  escapes  encountered." 

THE  BOY  AVIATORS'  POLAR  DASH 

"The  useful  information  concerning  the  Antarctic  regions,  and 
the  aviation  features  and  their  technical  correctness,  set  the  book 
apart  from  those  of  simple  entertainment  and  adventure." 

— The  Dallas  News,  Dallas,  Texas. 

THE  BOY  AVIATORS'  FLIGHT  FOR  A  FORTUNE 

"The  volume  is  packed  with  incidents  from  cover  to  cover,  and 
conveys  an  accurate  idea  of  modern  aeroplanes." 

THE  BOY  AVIATOIS  WITH  THE  AIR  RAIDERS 

In  view  of  the  world-wide  interest  in  practical  aviation,  this 
book  is  especially  thrilling  and  timely.  It  pertains  to  the  Great 
European  War. 

Up-to-the-minute  AIRSHIP  Books  which  record  the  most  thrill 
ling  experiences  any  daring  aviator  could  wish  for.  The  Stories 
are  written  by  a  famous  aviation  instructor  and  are  technically 
correct  in  details.     One  million  copies  have  been  sold. 

Sent  postpaid  at  50c,  per  volume,  any  four  books  for 
$1.75,  or  the  complete  set  of  eight  for  $3.25. 

HURST  &  COMPANY,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


^ 


a&  OCEAN 
WIRELESJ 

BOy Son  tie 

ATLANTIC 

CAPTWLBURLAWTON 


nVtrST  &  COMPANY^S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLg 

OCEAN  WIRELESS  SERIES 

By  CAPT.  WILBUR  LAWTON 

12] 

Cloth  Bound.   Illustrated.  Price,  50c.  per  vol.,  postpaid 


The  Ocean  Wireless  Boys 
on  the  Atlantic 

How  a  Brooklyn  boy  became  a  wirelesa 
operator  and  shared  in  the  work  of  res- 
cue on  the  sea  makes  a  thrilling  tale. 

The  Ocean  Wireless  Boys 
and  the  Lost  Liner 

This  book  takes  the  young  wireless 
operators  into  southern  waters  and 
through  grave  perils. 

The  Ocean  Wireless  Boys  of  the  Iceberg 
Patrol 

The  sinking  of  the  Titanic  emphasized  the  usefulness  of  the 
wireless  in  the  iceberg  zones  described  in  this  volume. 

The  Ocean  Wireless  Boys  and  the  Naval 
Code 

Combine  warships  and  wireless,  danger,  intrigue,  and  daring 
and  you  have  an  exciting  tale  of  the  sea. 

The  Ocean  Wireless  Boys  on  the  Pacific 

Just  as  fascinating,  thrilling  and  interesting  as  any  of  the 
preceeding  volumes.    Plenty  of  action  for  red-blooded  boys. 

The  tragedies  of  the  seas  became  less  dreadful  with  the  intro- 
duction of  the  wireless  aboard  steamships  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
ultimately  that  the  "ocean  grave-yard**  will  be  a  thing  of  the 
past.     These  volmnes  describe  daring  and  exciting  tales. 

Sent  postpaid  upon  receipt  of  SO  cents  each,  or  tbc 
five  books  for  $2,25. 


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BORDER'BOYSj 
ON -THE 'TRAIL 

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HURST  &  COMPANY'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 

BORDER  BOYS  SERIES 

MEXICAN  AND  CANADIAN  FRONTIER  SERIES 

13]  By  FREMONT  B.  DEERING 

Cloth  Bound.  Illustrated.    Price,  50c.  per  vol.,  postpaid 

THE  BORDER  BOYS  ON  THE 
TRAIL 

WTiat  it  meant  to  make  an  enemy  of 
Black  Ramon  De  Barrios — that  is  the 
problem  that  Jack  Merrill  and  his 
friends,  including  Coyote  Pete,  face  in 
this  exciting  tale. 

THE  BORDER  BOYS  ACROSS 

THE  FRONTIER 

Read  of  the  Haunted  Mesa  and  its  my- 
steries of  the  Subterranean  River  and  its 
strange  uses,  of  the  value  of  gasolene  and 
steam  "in  running  the  gauntlet,"  and  you 
will  feel  that  not  even  the  ancient  splend- 
ors of  the  Old  World  can  furnish  a  bet- 
ter setting  for  romantic  action  than  the 
Border  of  the  New. 

THE  BORDER  BOYS  WITH  THE  MEXICAN  RANGERS 

As  every  day  is  making  history — faster,  it  is  said,  than  ever 
before — so  books  that  keep  pace  with  the  changes  are  full  of 
rapid  action  and  accurate  facts.  This  book  deals  with  lively 
times  on  the  Mexican  border. 

THE  BORDER  BOYS  WITH  THE  TEXAS  RANGERS 

The  Border  Boys  have  already  had  much  excitement  and 
adventure  in  their  lives,  but  all  this  has  served  to  prepare  them 
for  the  experiences  related  in  this  volume.  They  are  stronger, 
l)raver  and  more  resourceful  than  ever,  and  the  exigencies  of 
their  life  in  connection  with  the  Texas  Rangers  demand  all  their 
trained  ability. 

THE  BORDER  BOYS  IN  THE  CANADIAN  ROCKIES 

On  mountain  trails  beside  mountain  canyons  the  Border  Boys 
^'end  their  adventurous  way,  led  by  Mountain  Jim,  a  rare  type  of 
*'guide,  philosopher  and  friend."  The  solving  of  a  mountain  my-. 
Ctery  lends  added  interest  to  their  tour  of  exploration. 

THE  BORDER  BOYS  ALONG  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE 

The  swift  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River  make  a  good  set- 
ting for  this  tale  of  adventure,  for  its  turnings  and  twistings  and 
•^'indings  are  as  unexpected  and  surprising  as  the  treacherous 
spots  in  the  river  itself. 

Life  on  the  border  is  a  fascination;  these  frontier  stories 
abound  with  incidents,  with  plenty  of  excitement  and  adven- 
ture mixed  in.  Good,  wholesome  books  for  the  up-to-the- 
minute  boy. 

Sent  postpaid  at  50  cents  each,  or  we  will  forward  the  six 
for  $2.50. 


HURST  &  COMPANY,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


HURST  &  COMPANY'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 

MOTOR  RANGERS  SERIES 

HIGH  SPEED  MOTOR  STORIES 

"J  By  MARVIN  WEST 

Cloth  Bound.   Illustrated.   Price,  50c.  per  vol.,  postpaid 

The  Motor  Rangers'  Lost 
Mine 

This  is  an  absorbing  story  of  the  con- 
tinuous adventures  of  a  Daotor  car  in 
the  hands  of  Nat  Trevor  and  his  friends. 

The  Motor  Rangers 
Through  the  Sierras 

Enemies  in  ambush  and  the  guarding 
of  treasure  make  exciting  times  for  tho 
Motor  Rangers — yet  there  is  a  strong 
flavor  of  fun  and  freedom,  with  a 
typical  Western  mountaineer  for  spice. 

The  Motor  Rangers  on  Blue  Water 

The  strange  adventures  of  the  sturdy  craft  "Nomad"  and  the 
stranger  experiences  of  the  Rangers  themselves  froxn  the  basis  of 
this  well-spun  yarn  of  the  sea. 

The  Motor  Rangers'  Cloud  Cruiser 

From  the  "Nomad"  to  the  "Discoverer,"  from  the  sea  to  tlie 
sky,  the  scene  changes  in  which  the  Motor  Rangers  figure. 

The  Motor  Rangers'  Wireless  Station 

The  "Nomad"  again  figures  largely  in  this  story  of  the  Motor 
Rangers,  and  its  adventures  begin  in  response  to  a  wireless  call 
for  help. 

The  Motor  Rangers  Touring  for  the  Trophy 

Keen  rivalry  between  a  number  ef  motor  cars  in  a  long-dis- 
tance race  gives  rise  to  a  series  of  experiences,  laughable,  serious 
and  exciting. 

The  Motor  Rangers  are  "on  the  go"  all  the  time;  never  a  dull 
minute  when  you  are  with  them.  They  spin  along  into  .new 
climes  and  encounter  strange  experiences.  High  speed  books 
which  boys  will  enjoy. 

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HURST  &  COMPANY'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 

BUNGALOW  BOYS  SERIES 

15]  By  DEXTER  J.  FORRESTER 

Cloth.     Illustrated.     Price  50c.  Each 

The  Bungalow  Boys 

How  the  Bungalow  Boys  received  their 
title  and  how  they  retained  the  right  to 
it  in  spite  of  much  opposition  makes  a 
lively  narrative  of  lively  boys. 

The   Bungalow   Boys   Ma* 
rooned  in  the  Tropics 

A  real  treasure  hunt  of  the  most  thrill- 
ing kind  makes  a  subject  of  intense  in- 
terest at  any  time,  but  add  to  that  a 
Land  of  desperate  men,  a  dark  plot  and  a 
devil-fish,  and  you  have  the  combina- 
tion that  brings  strange  adventures. 

The  Bungalow  Boys  in  the  Great  North  West 

The  clever  assistance  of  a  young  detective  saves  the  boys  from 
the  clutches  of  Chinese  smugglers,  of  whose  nefarious  trade  they 
know  too  much. 

The  Bungalow  Boys  on  the  Great  Lakes 

The  Bungalow  Boys  start  for  a  quiet  cruise  on  the  Great 
Lakes  and  a  visit  to  an  island.  A  storm  and  a  band  of  wreck- 
ers interfere  with  the  serenity  of  their  trip,  and  a  submarine 
adds  zest  and  adventure  to  it. 

The  Bungalow  Boys  Along  the  Yukon 

Into  a  wild  country  on  a  dangerous  quest  the  Bungalow  Boys 
go  next,  their  uncle  and  his  partner  in  charge  of  the  enter- 
prise to  which  they  are  pledged. 

The  Bungalow  Boys  North  of  Fifty-Three 

This  volume  continues  the  strangely  interesting  adventures  of 
the  boys  in  Alaska.  A  vivid  picture  of  the  land  in  the  grip  of 
winter  is  given. 

If  you  want  real  live-wire  books  of  adventure,  the  "Bunga- 
low Boys"  stories  will  fill  the  bill.  They  are  snappy,  clever  and 
overflowing  with  thrilling  incidents  and  experiences.  You  will 
like  these  books. 

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